Family Medicine Experts Opine on Delayed Diagnosis of Colon Cancer

Case Overview

This case involves an elderly female patient who presented to her primary care physician with complaints of occasional rectal bleeding. According to the physician, the patient declined a digital rectal exam, despite the fact that one was allegedly offered. The plaintiff claimed that the benefits of the test were never discussed, and a colonoscopy was not offered as a next step in her treatment. The patient continued to complain of similar symptoms in subsequent visits, and had stated that the symptoms were becoming progressively worse. Eventually, the patient underwent a colonoscopy that discovered a cancerous growth. It was claimed that the cancer would of been diagnosed earlier had proper treatment been rendered.