Note: This post summarizes a 2014 news report about a Massachusetts case. Davis & Davis was not involved in that case. The outcome of any case depends on its own facts, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in another case.
Houston residents who go to the doctor with a medical condition assume that their trusted medical professional can help them get better or at least make a diagnosis. Medical professionals are supposed to diagnose illnesses or refer patients to specialists for further treatment or analysis. Unfortunately, negligence does occur among medical professionals and situations such as a failure to diagnose serious illnesses can happen.
In June 2014, a jury in Boston awarded $16.7 million to the family of a woman whose lung cancer, according to news reports, was not detected on an earlier chest X-ray. In 2006 the woman went to the emergency room complaining of a frequent cough. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia. The radiologist who read the x-ray declared it to be normal. The woman was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. A later CT scan, ordered by another doctor, showed advanced lung cancer, and she died in August 2008. At trial, her family contended that the radiologist missed evidence of the disease on the initial X-ray, and the defense disputed that claim.
When a medical mistake results in the death of a family member, families may feel confused and angry about the situation. A medical professional should be held accountable for their negligence and a medical malpractice attorney can help these families determine their next steps. When a provider’s failure to properly review symptoms or test results causes a patient’s condition to worsen, the law allows the patient or family to seek accountability. Justice for these families is important and can change the way these medical professionals do their work.
Families who have been affected by a negligent medical professional may find it rewarding to stand up to these professionals and hold them accountable. It is important to prevent future harm to other people and to recover the compensation that is due for their tremendous loss.
Missed findings on imaging are one way a serious diagnosis can be delayed. Our page on radiology errors explains how these claims work in Texas, and our article answering whether you can sue a radiologist for malpractice in Texas covers common questions.
Source: Chron.com, “Jury awards $16.7M in Boston malpractice suit,” June 30, 2014
