New York Colon Cancer Malpractice Attorneys

Representing Victims of Errors in Diagnosing Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second deadliest type of cancer, yet with regular routine screening, it is almost always preventable. Unfortunately, errors can be made during the screening procedure, and the cancer can go undetected and be misdiagnosed. When this is the case, the patient will not receive critical early treatment and, as a result, can suffer needless harm or even die.

At Simonson Goodman Platzer PC, we represent victims of colon cancer diagnosis errors, including the surviving family members of individuals who die as a result of substandard medical care. Our New York colon cancer malpractice attorneys are ready to sit down with you and listen to your story. From there, we can begin immediately investigating your claim and building a case tailored to your unique situation. In their decades of practice, our attorneys have recovered more than $200 million for their clients. Give us a call to learn how they can help you with your recovery.

You can reach our office online or by phone at (800) 817-5029. Your initial consultation is absolutely free and entirely confidential.

How Colon Cancer Spreads

All colon cancers begin as benign (noncancerous) growths called polyps. In some cases, and over quite a long period of time, the tip of the polyp may become cancerous. If not removed early enough, cancer may progress until the wall of the colon becomes involved. Most medical professionals agree that it takes five years or more for a cancerous polyp to spread to the colon wall. However, once the wall of the colon is invaded by cancer cells, there is the strong likelihood that the cancer will spread to other organs where it can cause massive damage and, ultimately, be deadly.

If your or your loved one’s colon cancer was overlooked and treatment was delayed, the experienced New York colon cancer lawyers at Simonson Goodman Platzer PC can help. We know the law and have been helping victims of medical malpractice recover damages for decades.

How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

A colonoscopy is the most effective colon cancer screening test in use today. During a colonoscopy, a fiber optic scope with a miniature camera is inserted into the rectum and guided through the length of the colon in an attempt to identify polyps. In order for this screening to be effective in allowing a close-up view of the colon wall, a pre-test colon cleanse must adequately empty the colon by inducing diarrhea.

How Can Colon Cancer Be Missed?

If there is adequate preparation and the colonoscopy is properly performed, almost every polyp and early cancer should be identified and removed. Colon cancer malpractice may occur when the doctor realizes that the colonoscopy prep was inadequate due to stool blocking a good view of the colon wall, yet continues with the procedure and misses something that needs to be removed. A year or so may go by, the patient begins to have symptoms, and further testing reveals colon cancer that probably was there at the time of the previous colonoscopy.

Additionally, colon cancer can also be missed when the gastroenterologist performs an inadequate or incomplete colonoscopy and misses a cancerous mass. In a case like this, the doctor likely failed to pass the scope far enough into the colon and missed cancer in an area that should have been explored.

If either of these situations should happen to you or a loved one, contact Simonson Goodman Platzer PC as soon as possible. We can help you understand your legal rights and options for filing a medical malpractice claim.

Late Colon Cancer Screenings

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its colon cancer screening guidelines a few years ago. It now recommends that patients and doctors schedule colorectal cancer screenings at 45, not 50, which was the previous age recommendation.

According to members of the medical task force, a sharp increase in colon cancer diagnoses among people aged 45 to 49 prompted an investigation. It concluded that more than 10% of all colorectal cancer cases occur in people under 50. Logically, the USPSTF determined that screenings should be occurring at 45 if that means catching such a large percentage of cancer cases earlier.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) first recommended that screenings start as young as 45 two years ago, too, citing similar concerns.

How Colon Cancer Malpractice Happens

A typical colon cancer malpractice case might happen if a doctor fails to perform a colonoscopy when one is necessary, and thereby fails to identify a treatable cancer. An example of this type of case might be a patient who has some blood in his stool, is chronically constipated, or has chronic diarrhea, and yet the primary care doctor fails to recommend a colonoscopy or referral to a specialist. If it turns out that the patient has colon cancer that has spread, the patient and/or his or her family members could have grounds for legal action.

Colon cancer malpractice cases can also arise when a primary care doctor fails to recommend routine screening at a proper time or interval, or when a gastroenterologist fails to recommend further testing when he or she sees something suspicious. The state of New York allows you two years and six months to file a colon cancer malpractice claim.

What to Do If You or a Loved One Received Improper Medical Care

If you suspect that you, a family member, or friend may have been a victim of colon cancer malpractice, contact the colon cancer malpractice lawyers at Simonson Goodman Platzer PC as soon as possible to schedule your free consultation. We offer contingency fees, meaning if we don’t recover compensation on your behalf, you don’t pay us a dime.

Call (800) 817-5029 or submit a free online case evaluation form to get started.