Supposed failure to diagnose cancer may have led to man's death

Losing a loved one to cancer can be exceptionally difficult for any New Jersey family. Recently, two women from another state in the United States alleged that a clinic acted negligently by the failure to diagnose cancer in one of their family members. They claim that this ultimately led to his death, which may have been avoided if he had been diagnosed correctly.

In Jan. 2009, a male patient was seen by a specialist, who referred him out to an interventional cardiologist. The following month, two separate cardiologists examined him and subsequently ordered that he have blood tests. Apparently, the results of his blood tests showed that he had microcytic anemia. However, his family contends that he was never informed of those results. The suit asserts that his cardiologists attributed some of his health problems to stress because his other tests, such as a VQ and CT scan, showed normal results.

Later that year, in Sept. 2009, the patient saw a different physician, who was reportedly concerned about the anemia diagnosis. The plaintiffs claim that the patient was told that in males who are 50 years old or older, a diagnosis of microcytic anemia can actually indicate colon cancer. By the time that it was discovered that he did have colon cancer, it had spread to his liver. Despite aggressive treatment, he died in Dec. 2012.

Both the man’s wife and his daughter believe that the failure to diagnose cancer in their loved one resulted in a delay of treatment. They further claim that the clinic’s negligence resulted in not only the financial burden of medical expenses incurred during the process of trying to save his life, but also mental anguish for the loss of a family member. For those in New Jersey who have lost a loved one after a crucial diagnosis was missed, seeking compensation through a medical malpractice claim can be a smart step toward recovery for all those involved.

Source: louisianarecord.com, "Family sues over alleged medical malpractice at Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute", Chelsea Partington, Aug. 21, 2014

Source: louisianarecord.com, "Family sues over alleged medical malpractice at Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute", Chelsea Partington, Aug. 21, 2014