It is estimated that less than one percent of those diagnosed with colon cancer are younger than 35. However, because of the fact that colon cancer can be fatal doctors usually acknowledge that the presence of rectal bleeding, even in an individual below thirty-five, needs to be investigated by a colonoscopy in order to verify the source of the bleeding Merely supposing that the blood is from hemorrhoids may constitute malpractice.
Take, for example, what happened in a reported case involving a woman who complained to her primary care physician that she noticed blood in her stool and experienced pain when having bowel movements. She was just 24 years old. The doctor, justwithout even doing an examination, told her to take a laxative after diagnosing her with diarrhea and other bowel problems. She went back after 4 months with complaints of constipation, pain and problems sitting. Now the physician finally examined her but assured her she had hemorrhoids. His treatment: an enema. The woman saw that doctor on two additional occasions and each time was told that her symptoms were due to hemorrhoids and she had nothing to worry about.
She needed to be rushed to an emergency room because of intense pain 7 months after her first visit to her primary care physician. They scheduled a colonoscopy and was found to have advanced colorectal cancer. The cancer was so extensive by the time she had surgery that not only did the surgeon need to take out a portion of her colon but also had to remove her uterus and a section of her lower intestines. She then had to undergo chemotherapy. The cancer came back and she died in under three years. She was survived by her husband and daughter, a minor.
The law firm that represented the family reported that a jury awarded the family a sum of $2,500,000. The sum included the maximum of $350,000 permitted for pain and suffering under the law of the State where the doctor practices. The rest was for future lost wages. This case shows what is perhaps the most prevalent medical mistake concerning the delayed diagnosis of colon cancer.
Far too often physicians do not order a colonoscopy or refer the person to a gastroenterologist when a individual reports rectal bleeding or blood in the stool. Rather, these physicians merely assume that the blood is the result of hemorrhoids. This is particularly typical when the patient is under fifty years old.
If a matter like that above happens and the patient dies because the cancer spread to where it was no longer curable because of the delay in diagnosis the surviving family might be able to bring a claim against the doctor responsible for the delay.
Author Resource:-
Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney accepting cancer malpractice cases cases. You can learn more about cases involving advanced colon cancer and stage 4 colon cancer at the website
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