The Porter Law Group has issued a settlement demand of $2.6 million in a medical malpractice case involving the failure to recommend and perform routine prostate cancer screening, which led to a devastating Stage IV cancer diagnosis that could have been prevented with proper medical care.
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The case centers around a 75-year-old man who had been treating with the same primary care physician for over 20 years. Despite the client’s age and complaints of urinary symptoms, his doctor never educated him about his risk for prostate cancer or recommended routine PSA screening tests that could have detected the disease at an early, treatable stage. The client was ultimately diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer in November 2021 after his PSA level was finally tested and found to be extremely elevated at 1,131.55 ng/mL, indicating the cancer had already metastasized throughout his body.
According to medical experts retained by the Porter Law Group, the doctor’s failure to engage in shared decision-making about prostate cancer screening and recommend annual PSA testing represented a clear deviation from well-established standards of care. The experts maintain that with appropriate screening, the client’s cancer would almost certainly have been diagnosed at an early stage when it was still surgically curable.
Instead, the client now requires ongoing androgen deprivation therapy that causes severe side effects including extreme fatigue, hot flashes, loss of muscle mass, cognitive issues, and sexual dysfunction. The treatments have dramatically impacted his quality of life and ability to engage in activities he previously enjoyed, particularly spending time with his beloved 12-year-old grandson.
Most devastatingly, medical experts have testified that the client now has less than a one-in-three chance of surviving five years from his diagnosis. When his cancer inevitably progresses, he will be forced to undergo chemotherapy before ultimately succumbing to the disease – a tragic outcome that could have been prevented with proper screening.
The client’s life care plan details the extensive ongoing medical care he requires, including regular oncology visits, diagnostic imaging, and multiple medications. The economic impact of his past and future medical expenses is substantial. However, the emotional toll has been even greater, particularly regarding his relationship with his grandson. As the client testified, “I’m not afraid to die. Seventy-five years is not bad, but if what they say is true, am I going to see him graduate from high school and all that other stuff? That’s the only thing that bothers me.”
The Porter Law Group’s settlement demand takes into account both the clear liability in this case and the devastating impact on the client’s life expectancy and quality of life. The firm’s medical experts are prepared to testify that the client will suffer profoundly before his death – an early and horrible death that could have been prevented had his doctor simply engaged him in a conversation about PSA screening and ordered a routine blood test.
Cases like this underscore the critical importance of proper cancer screening and the devastating consequences when medical providers fail to follow established standards of care. The Porter Law Group remains committed to holding healthcare providers accountable and seeking justice for patients who have suffered due to medical negligence.
If you or a loved one has experienced delayed diagnosis or other forms of medical malpractice, it’s crucial to understand your legal rights. Contact the Porter Law Group today for a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and learn about your options for pursuing justice and compensation.
