African-American Males Compensated By Physicians For Prostate Cancer Metastasizes Due To Delay In Diagnosis
In what follows we look at two claims that provide some an understanding of the advantages of testing men for prostate cancer. Although there has been some debate recently on the worth of screening men for prostate cancer (specifically regarding the PSA test) a number of facts remain undisputable. To start, prostate cancer brings about an increasing PSA level. Next, African-American males have a bigger probability of having prostate cancer prior to metastasis. Also, if prostate cancer is found early, the man has in excess of a 97% likelihood of surviving past 5 years. Further, if it is not diagnosed until after it has metastasized, there is as of the writing of this article no way to eliminate the cancer. Finally, normally medical doctors acknowledge that at the very least a physician ought to have a conversation with a male patient of a particular age concerning testing for prostate cancer and that conversation and any testing ought to happen at an earlier age for African-American men.
In the first medical malpractice matter, a male patient of African-American heritage regularly saw his family physician. Over time, the doctor saw the patient for several medical problems. Among them were prostate related ailments. But, the physician failed to correctly conduct testing during the time the man was asymptomatic or diagnostic testing to rule out the chance of prostate cancer during the times the patient had prostate related concerns. When the man was 57, he read an article explaining the value of testing and asked the doctor to test him. The tests found that he had prostate cancer which had already spread. The law firm that represented the plaintiff reported it was settled for three quarter of a million dollars.
In a second reported case the patient was an African-American man, age 41, who requested to be tested for prostate cancer after participating in a campaign to raise awareness about the risk middle-aged African-American men face when it comes to prostate cancer. The patient thought a PSA test was ordered and simply believed the results were normal when he did not hear anything further about it. The patient saw the physician again 2 years later. The doctor again failed to order a PSA test. This time the doctor did not even do a digital examination.
Later that year the patient saw another physician in the same practice. This doctor completed a digital examination and ordered a PSA test. The patient now learned that he had prostate cancer with bone metastasis. The law firm that represented the victim in this matter reported achieving a settlement in the case as it was pending an appeal of a $2.75 Million jury verdict.
The thing these lawsuits illustrate is that, irrespective of any debate regarding the advantages of testing men for prostate cancer, failing to do so might end in spread of the disease and ultimately, the death of the man : a death that might have be prevented. In case you or a member of your family was not diagnosed until the cancer had metastasized because the physician never notified the man concerning testing methods or caused a delay in the detection or treatment of the cancer, you ought to contact a lawyer right away.