(Last Updated on: September 10, 2018 )
A 50-year-old woman’s breast cancer was not timely diagnosed by her doctor or the radiologist who performed her mammogram. The delay in diagnosis led to the woman having to undergo a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgeries and chemotherapy. The woman had visited her doctor after discovering a lump in her right breast. The doctor referred her for a mammogram and ultrasound, which were performed a week later. The radiologist assessed the tests as normal and recommended an annual screening mammogram. A few days later when the woman visited her regular doctor again, he “reassured” her, but also said they would consider an MRI or gene test for breast cancer risk. These tests never took place and on a following “well-woman” checkup to her doctor a few months later, the tests were not mentioned. The following year, the woman went for her annual mammogram and breast cancer was diagnosed. The suit was resolved in mediation.