Settlement In Suit Alleging Failure To Diagnose Breast Cancer

Settlement In Suit Alleging Failure To Diagnose Breast Cancer

Verdicts, Settlements & Tactics

January 1999

Medical Liability

*18 SETTLEMENT IN SUIT ALLEGING FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE BREAST CANCER

Copyright © 1999 West Group

A family physician failed to arrange for close follow-up and/or biopsy of a 51-year-old female’s axillary mass, postponing the diagnosis of breast cancer for more than a year.
Injury: Metastatic bone disease, shortened life expectancy and emotional distress
Result: $950,000 settlement.
Plaintiff’s Expert Witnesses: Melanie Mintzer, M.D., family medicine, Chapel Hill, N.C.; Robert L. Smith, M.D., family medicine, Fallston MD; Jeffrey S. Weber, M.D., Ph.D., oncology, Irvine, Calif., Barry L. Singer, M.D., oncology, Norristown PA
Plaintiff’s Attorneys: Wade E. Byrd, Fayetteville, N.C.
Anonymous v. Anonymous, (N.C. Sept. 8, 1998)
19 NO. 1 Verdicts, Settlements & Tactics 18