Delay in Diagnosis of Recurrent Prostate Cancer:
$2.25 Million Settlement
2024 Medical Malpractice Case Report
By Attorney Willliam J. Thompson
Suffolk County Superior Court, Boston, Massachusetts
PCPs failed to recognize patient’s PSA result was abnormal and concerning for prostate cancer recurrence
In 2010, the patient was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent a prostatectomy. Pathology showed Gleason 7 adenocarcinoma. There were 9 out of 9 negative nodes. Subsequent PSA tests from 2011 through 2014 were undetectable as expected.
In 2015, the patient’s primary care doctor ordered a PSA which resulted at .2 which the plaintiff claimed should have been concerning for recurrent prostate cancer. Within a few months of this test, the patient switched PCPs and for some reason the test result was not followed up on by either doctor.
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In April 2016, the patient’s PSA resulted as 6.51 and he was referred to a urologist due to concern for recurrence of his prostate cancer. A bone scan demonstrated new intense focal areas of uptake within the medial right iliac bone and the left shoulder, highly suspicious for metastases. He was treated with Lupron and Zometa, and underwent 6 cycles of Docetaxel.
Subsequent CTs of the abdomen/pelvis revealed progression of the bony metastatic disease in the pelvis, spine, and anterior aortic lymph nodes, and two pulmonary nodules. Multiple therapies were tried but ultimately, the patient passed away in 2018.
The plaintiff claimed the PCPs failed to review the patient’s 2015 PSA result and/or recognize and appreciate that his PSA of .2 was abnormal and concerning for prostate cancer recurrence, and immediately refer the patient to urology for further evaluation and treatment, resulting in a one year delay in the diagnosis and treatment of his recurrent prostate cancer.
The case settled for $2,250,000.
Lubin & Meyer attorneys Andrew C. Meyer and William J. Thompson represented the plaintiff in this medical malpractice case.
Other recent prostate cancer cases:
$2.84 Million Verdict - Urologist decides elevated PSA is benign, fails to diagnose prostate cancer (Gleason 9).
$1.5 Million Settlement - Urologist's delay in diagnosis of Gleason 9 prostate cancer leads to advanced disease
$1 Million Settlement - PCP’s failure to offer PSA screening leads to delay in diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer.
$1 Million Settlement - Lawsuit claims doctor was negligent by failing to refer patient to a urologist for a biopsy after elevated PSA tests, and failure to repeat prostate cancer screening annually.
$1 Million Settlement - Wrongful death lawsuit involving a 58-year-old man who died during a prostatectomy following misdiagnosed prostate cancer
See our Patient Safety Blog post:
As Prostate Cancer Screenings Have Decreased; Advanced Cancers Have Skyrocketed
Learn more: How To Determine Medical Malpractice in Cancer Cases
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