$800,000.00 settlement for misdiagnosis of colorectal cancer*
Our client sought treatment from his family practice physician for occasional rectal bleeding. The doctor performed a colonoscopy in his office, which he concluded was “normal,” and diagnosed our client hemorrhoids. The patient returned to his doctor several more times for rectal bleeding but no further testing or treatment was provided. After several more months of intermittent bleeding without improvement, our client sought a second opinion from another physician, who relied on the previous colonoscopy report and rendered the same diagnosis of hemorrhoids. Over the following year our client’s bleeding worsened, so he sought treatment from a third physician, who performed an examination and found a large cancerous colorectal tumor. Our client required surgery, a colostomy (an abdominal bag for stool collection), radiation and chemotherapy treatments. In spite of the cancer treatments, the colorectal cancer metastasized (spread) to other parts of his body and his chances of survival decreased.
The defendant doctors (the first and second physicians) claimed our client didn’t have colorectal cancer at the time of the colonoscopy, or in the alternative, the cancer was very slow growing and a diagnosis of cancer at the time of the colonoscopy wouldn’t have made any difference in our client’s prognosis and outcome.
As a nurse-attorney, Marjorie Chalfant proved the defendant doctor (a family practice physician) wasn’t qualified to perform a colonoscopy and should have referred our client to a gastroenterology specialist for proper diagnosis.
*Ms. Chalfant’s successful settlements do not guarantee the same or similar result for every case but are presented to demonstrate her knowledge of medicine, medical malpractice litigation skills, and successful track record. Every case is unique with varying facts and circumstances.
There is no charge for a consultation, and there are no costs or fees unless we win your case. Please call The Nurse Attorney today at (941) 210-4220, or send us an email at mchalfant@TheNurseAttorney.com.