Patients facing cancer diagnoses are typically afraid of the unknown. Treatments for cancer are often aggressive with debilitating side effects, which can be frightening for someone who is already sick. Knowing the treatment may bring about remission is what gets many New York cancer patients through the difficult months. However, for one woman, a doctor’s attempt to treat her cancer led to more complications and a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The 63-year-old woman suffered from a tumor on her adrenal gland near her left kidney. She was scheduled for an operation, to be performed by the chief of urology, to remove the cancerous gland. However, in addition to the adrenal gland, the doctor mistakenly removed 40 percent of the woman’s pancreas, an essential organ for controlling the body’s insulin levels.
Family members say the doctor informed them that the surgery had gone well and made no mention of the grievous error. The loss of a substantial part of her pancreas allowed fluids to leak into her abdomen, requiring dozens of surgeries. The woman now lives with constant, significant pain and the knowledge that she cannot have additional tumors removed until she heals from the surgical mistake.
In New York, there are numerous options for seeking treatment for cancer. While every cancer treatment carries its known side effect and risks, one of those risks should not be the medical malpractice of a surgeon. Patients who suffer from such mistakes are often left with even more pain and illness, as well as additional medical procedures. By contacting an attorney, they may be able to obtain compensation for their medical expenses as well as the emotional toll they have paid.
Source: star-telegram.com, “”, Ryan Osborne, Sept. 27, 2017