Facei Blog

Doctor assures patient even though screening tests suspicious for prostate cancer

May 27th, 2009

A man sought his medical care from his family doctor, a general practitioner.  While the doctor performed screening PSA testing, he failed to follow up on readings of 5.95, 5.33 and 7.03 over a sixteen month period.  A reading above a 4.0 is generally considered to be high and to require further action, such as diagnostic testing.  Instead, the doctor told the man that the results were normal for a man his age.  The man eventually went to a urologist at the urging of a family member.  The urologist diagnosed him with prostate cancer.  At 64, the cancer had spread beyond the prostate into the seminal vesicles.  Once the cancer spreads beyond the prostate it is no longer considered curable.  The law firm handling the case reported it settled for $1,500,000.

Entry Filed under: Health