Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in California

Not infromed of mass in the breast

last year october of 2001 my mother whent to a mammogram and a week later she recived a letter in the mail saying that everything was clear and no cancers were diagnosed. Then to schedule her next mammogram in 1 year. Two weeks ago she had pain in her abdomen so the doctor told her to get an ultrasound, she whent into the hospital to get an appointment thats when they told her that she had a mass in her breast she should have got an ultrasound then. she was furious because no one told her of this. Even after seeing her doctor so many times after the mammogram she wasn't informed of the mass. The doctor told her if there was enything serious then they would of sent a letter to her. I think a mass is very serious, without determing what that mass is how can they say that its not serious and not infroming her. Maybe she didn't want to wait and wnated to get a biopsy right away. God fobid that the mass is cancerous she just lost 6 months of getting treatment for nothing. What can we do?


Asked on 4/17/02, 3:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
D. Alexander Floum, Esq.

Re: Not infromed of mass in the breast

She should get a biopsy right away to determine if it is cancerous. If so, and the delay has hurt her, she may be able to sue, depending on whether the doctor "failed to use the standard of care" he should have used in treating your mother.

If its not cancerous, she will be reassured, and there will not be any damage from the doctor's actions, so she will not need to bring a lawsuit.

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Answered on 4/17/02, 4:38 pm


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