Misdiagnosis – A Breast Cancer Story
A medical misdiagnosis can lead to further problems. Learn how one woman underwent serious and painful treatment for breast cancer that didn’t exist. Find out when to call a lawyer if you have medical misdiagnoses.
Trouble Breastfeeding
Sarah Boyle noticed a problem with her infant son. Whenever she tried to breastfeed him from her right breast, he would become upset. Any parent can understand how upsetting this is for a new mother. So, the 25-year-old mother went to the hospital for answers. Her doctor ordered a biopsy with testing.
Lab Results
Lab testing at the hospital came back to Sarah’s doctor. The doctor told Sarah she had triple-negative breast cancer. She was immediately sent for treatment.
Breast Cancer Treatment
Triple-negative breast cancer does not work like other cancers. It is not fueled by hormones, estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Triple-negative does not respond to hormonal therapy or medicines targeting HER2 receptors. But, it does respond to aggressive treatments and medicines. Learn more about triple-negative breast cancer.
Chemotherapy
Sarah had chemotherapy as part of her treatment to remove all cancer. She lost all her hair. Sarah was sick all the time. Doctors told her she may not be able to have more children. But, Sarah focused on getting better.
Double Mastectomy
Sarah followed her doctor’s advice. She continued treatment and eventually had both breasts removed. Later, she had reconstruction surgery with implants. Then, things got worse.
Misdiagnosis
After everything she had been through, Sarah’s doctor had some terrible news. The lab technician entered Sarah’s results incorrectly. Sarah never had cancer. The news was devastating!
A human error caused the misdiagnosis. Additionally, no one double-checked the results before Sarah began treatment.
Permanent Health Problems
Because of one person’s mistake, Sarah has ongoing health problems. This misdiagnosis put her through chemo. She had her healthy breasts removed and replaced with implants. But, the implants may cause cancer. Additionally, the chemo puts Sarah at risk of developing actual cancer in the future. Who is responsible?
Hospital Misdiagnosis
Ultimately, hospital policy caused a perfect storm of events that led to Sarah’s misdiagnosis. Policy and procedure dictate how information is passed from the lab to the doctor. The hospital should have a policy of checks-and-balances. More than one person should view the same information before a serious diagnosis.
When To Call A Malpractice Attorney
Sarah’s case is an extreme example of misdiagnosis and malpractice. Her misdiagnosis caused permanent harm. If you have a medical misdiagnosis, talk to an experienced malpractice attorney. Get advice to protect your rights.
Free Legal Consultation
The legal team at Haggerty & Silverman is here to answer any questions you have about misdiagnosis. We can give you free advice about your situation. If you have grounds for a lawsuit, we can handle it for you.
Call or text us anytime at 717-397-3200. Or, use our online form to schedule a free legal consultation.
Sources:
Original story on Yahoo News.