Medical research has proven that when detected early on, many cancers can be treated and eradicated. Today, in accordance with national health guidelines, cancer prevention screenings and tests are regularly and routinely performed. Sadly, one doctor's negligent act of failing to perform comprehensive cancer screens resulted in the death of a patient and a medical malpractice lawsuit.

The family of the 69-year-old man was recently awarded a settlement in the sum of $5.36 million dollars in a doctor negligence lawsuit. The man died in late 2011 after enduring four years of intensive chemotherapy treatments to combat colon cancer. His family filed a lawsuit against his doctor claiming negligence as they asserted the doctor failed to perform comprehensive tests that may have detected cancerous cells.

Citing documented research, national health guidelines recommend men over the age of 50 undergo yearly screening for colon cancer. The man's doctor, however, only performed limited testing despite his patient's age. Additionally, the doctor claimed he was adequately monitoring the patient for signs related to colon cancer, yet failed to perform a colonoscopy despite the patient's suspicious symptoms.

Included in the malpractice lawsuit, were claims related to the extreme physical discomfort the man endured during his cancer treatment in the years preceding his death. The patient's physical and mental anguish coupled with the doctor's failure to perform comprehensive cancer screen helped convince the court that the doctor was indeed negligent.

Ohio residents who believe they have suffered as the result of a medical professional's negligent acts, may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Compensation awarded from a medical malpractice or negligence lawsuit can help lessen the large financial burden often associated with medical malpractice matters.

Source: Legal Times, "D.C. Jury Awards $5M for Failure to Screen for Cancer," Zoe Tillman, June 25, 2012