Marine Vet Awarded $1.9 Million in Medical Malpractice Case
March 30, 2018
A Marine vet alleged that medical professionals failed to diagnose and treat his prostate cancer before it rapidly advanced and metastasized.
The retired Marine began prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings under the care of a VA physician when he turned 50. His PSA levels were in the normal range until 2009. At 60, he began seeing a different VA certified doctor. During his initial visit, the new doctor ordered a PSA screening. The result of the test was 4.534, which is considered above normal. A second test returned a reading of 4.317. The physician suggested actively monitoring the PSA every six months. In October, the patient saw a urologist who ordered another PSA screening. By then, his PSA levels had reached 5.578. The urologist’s initial assessment was that the Marine had a 42 percent chance of having prostate cancer.
The man’s PSA continued to increase until 2013 when he underwent surgery that involved, in part, removing 12 lymph nodes. Four tested positive for metastatic prostate cancer.
The Marine filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging that employees and physicians at the medical center failed to timely diagnose and treat his prostate cancer. He sought damages for disfigurement, pain and suffering, and loss of the enjoyment of life.
During the trial, one physician indicated that had a biopsy been done between 2009 and 2013, there is a good chance that cancer would have been found and it would not have been as pervasive. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and the man was awarded $1.9 million.
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