Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Missouri

Failure to Timely Diagnose Cancer:

For four months I was very ill and went to the local ER four different times, the first time ER doc did bloodwork, exrays and said I had pelvic infection. Pain didn't go away only progressed to more symptoms. I went to ER again bloodwork and exrays were done, and I was told I had pneumonia, second and forth time of visiting ER I was told I still had pnuemonia, without bloodwork or exrays being done.I feel this was merely an assumption.

Each time I was seen in the ER, I told them of my history of Non-hogkins lymphoma. I started passing blood through my urine, I had been yellow for quite sometime.I went to a different hospital because I could not breath and was deathly sick, I was very weak, and tired of being told I had pnuemonia, and taking several different meds, that didn't help!

I was sent by ambalence from that ER to a different ER in Columbia where I was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma liver, lung, spleen, and pelvic involvment! I had a have life saving aggressively strong chemo five straight days 24 hours aday! I lost 75% of my hearing due to the agressively strong chemo to save my life!The type of lymphoma I had was a very rapid growing type!

Do you think I have a potential claim for medical mal?


Asked on 12/26/06, 8:40 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Adam Graves Bruer & Wooddell, P.C.

Re: Failure to Timely Diagnose Cancer:

Did your doc. in Columbia say that if he had seen you sooner, then he could have prevented your current problems? Also, what hospital did you go to during those 4 months?

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Answered on 12/27/06, 10:32 am
Michael R. Nack Michael R. Nack, Attorney at Law

Re: Failure to Timely Diagnose Cancer:

If an independent medical expert will testify that one or more of the ER doctors failed to meet the standard for medical care in the community, and therefore misdiagnosed you, and if your actual problem was capable of being properly diagnosed and the subsequent involvement thereby prevented, then you might have a valid claim for medical negligence (malpractice). An attorney would need to obtain all of the relevant medical records and then have them reviewed by an expert before the attorney could tell you whether you have a claim or not. This can be somewhat expensive, but would be worth it if you have a claim worth pursuing.

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Answered on 12/26/06, 9:15 pm


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