Jury Awards 16.7 Million for Failure to Diagnose
Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States with thousands of Americans affected either by having been diagnosed with cancer themselves or by knowing someone who has been diagnosed. Early detection of cancer greatly increases an individuals chances of successful treatment for remission and recovery. However, when the tests to detect cancer are misread, the results could be fatal.
In Boston, a jury awarded 16.7 million to the daughter of a woman who was misdiagnosed and died from lung cancer because the radiologist misread the evidence of cancer in a chest x-ray. The Boston Globe reports that the woman had visited the hospital complaining of a cough that was diagnosed as an upper respiratory infection. After thirteen months, the woman revisited the hospital due to worsened symptoms and received a CT scan that revealed advanced lung cancer. A few months after, the cancer spread to other organs before she died.
The Boston Globe reported that the attorney for the plaintiff indicated that the award was an acknowledgment of the daughter’s loss since her mother had no other children. In the daughter’s testimony, she described the close relationship she had with her mother, who raised her as a single mother. “They had a very unique relationship, and the jury understood that,” the attorney stated. “Lung cancer is a bad way to die, and she suffered significantly.”
At Diefenbach Law Firm, we strive to assist clients who have suffered severe harm or loss receive just compensation. We understand that legal action does not provide full relief for a medical related negligence to the harmed individual and their loved ones but it does provide some compensation and justice for the wrong. Gordon Price Diefenbach is dedicated to helping clients through this rough time in their lives. He focuses his time and his experience in cases that have provided injured clients with large settlements to ensure that each client receives just compensation to help individuals who suffered harm as a result of a doctor’s negligence. For more information or a free consultation, speak to an attorney at www.medical-attorneys.com.
