Successful medical treatment is a process of many steps. One of the most important steps in the treatment process is the correct diagnosis. A misdiagnosis can lead to a person receiving improper treatment or not enough treatment. The consequences of a misdiagnosis could be disastrous for patients in Pennsylvania.
Details of a medical malpractice claim
Recently in Westchester, Pennsylvania, a woman received a substantial monetary award from a medical malpractice lawsuit she filed after an alleged missed diagnosis. According to the lawsuit, the woman sought treatment for a lump on her breast. The lawsuit asserted that the nurse practitioner who saw the plaintiff reported the lump as benign and the plan was to follow up as needed. Allegedly, the plaintiff was diagnosed with breast cancer nine months later.
The lawsuit claimed that the woman had to undergo a bilateral mastectomy. However, the woman alleged that had she received the proper diagnosis and care initially, her cancer would have been caught early enough and she wouldn’t have required a mastectomy for treatment. The jury sided with the plaintiff and awarded her $18 million. According to Chester County Court officials, this is the largest award ever for a civil case in the county.
Where can victims go for help?
Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are human, and humans make mistakes. It’s not a question of if errors will happen in medical care, but when. Those in Pennsylvania who have suffered injuries or the loss of a loved one due to medical malpractice could benefit by contacting a skilled attorney. A lawsuit, if successful, could provide victims and families with much-needed and deserved financial relief.
