This case involves a female patient with pancreatic cancer. The patient had an exam with the defendant for cold like symptoms. Some months later, the patient saw the defendant for pain in the abdomen that had persisted for several days. The patient was given a prescription for Prilosec and told to follow up in a few weeks if symptoms persisted. The patient saw the defendant again some months later for continued pain in the abdomen. At this point, the patient’s weight had been declining steadily, which was initially attributed to mismanaged diabetes, so she was switched to Onglyza. During this visit, the patient underwent a colonoscopy which was unremarkable, prompting her physician to order an abdominal CT scan. The scan revealed a mass on the patient’s pancreas, which was followed by a tissue biopsy to confirm malignancy. The tissue sample taken during the biopsy, however, consisted of largely healthy tissue. Additional testing also failed to reveal the presence of malignant cells, however the patient continued to lose weight. Eventually, a rebiopsy was ordered that discovered malignant cells, and the patient died shortly afterwards.
Questions to the Oncology expert and their responses
Is it possible the patient could have had an earlier diagnosis?
I am highly qualified to review this case and glad to assist. If there were symptoms of pain and 21 lbs weight loss, a more extensive work up should have been performed and diagnosis established. I need to see the extent of metastatic disease when it first presented, when the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was finally made, but it is likely that the delay of 3-4 months could have made the difference between stage IV and III. Unfortunately, the prognosis is poor in either stage. One can make an argument that the prognosis improved with new therapies. For stage IV it is a few percent. For stage III, 10-15 percent.
About the expert
This highly qualified, board certified, extremely well published expert earned his bachelor's degree from Yeshiva University and his medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical College. This was followed by a residency in internal medicine at the New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital and at Hahnemann University Medical Center. This expert then completed his formal medical education by pursuing a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Long Island Jewish Hillside Hospital Medical Center. This expert has earned numerous awards for his contributions as a physician. This expert is extremely well published, having authored 28 Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, 10 Abstracts and 16 reviews. This expert's mastery of research has allowed him to serve as reviewer and editor for numerous leading medical journals. This expert previously held numerous positions, serving as Director of the Cancer Center of Generations Manhattan, Chief of Hematology and Oncology and associate director of the cancer center at Lincoln Medical Center, Co-Director of the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Brookdale University Hospital, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Cornell University and as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. This expert currently serves as Associate Attending at a regional hospital and on the Medical advisory board for a pharmaceutical company.
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About the author
Joseph O'Neill
Joe has extensive experience in online journalism and technical writing across a range of legal topics, including personal injury, meidcal malpractice, mass torts, consumer litigation, commercial litigation, and more. Joe spent close to six years working at Expert Institute, finishing up his role here as Director of Marketing. He has considerable knowledge across an array of legal topics pertaining to expert witnesses. Currently, Joe servces as Owner and Demand Generation Consultant at LightSail Consulting.
