Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Case Filed After Fatal Misdiagnosis of Cancer

A widow has won more than $84,000 in damages following the death of her husband following a misdiagnosis that caused cancer to worsen.

Misdiagnosis Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Christopher Goodhead was 41 years old when he died from colorectal cancer in 2009.  He was diagnosed with hemorrhoids, which turned out to be colorectal cancer. News sources across the world have reported on this tragic case of misdiagnosis.  Medical mistakes like these are difficult to make sense of.

Goodhead went to Dr. Asim Islam complaining of rectal bleeding in April 2005.  Dr Islam carried out a visual examination of Goodhead but nothing more thorough.  For two years his condition worsened until in June 2007 he was told that he had stage four rectal cancer.  He began chemotherapy treatment immediately but it wasn’t enough to stop the disease which had already spread through his body.  He died at home less than two years later in January 2009.

His widow Melissa Cutting believes that it was the fatal delay in diagnosing her husband’s condition that caused his death and that if they had caught the disease sooner Goodhead would have a better chance of survival.  In fact, Dr. Islam and the hospital did admit that if they had conducted more thorough tests Goodhead would have had a 46% chance of being cured.  Instead, he died leaving behind his wife and four children.

Cutting filed the wrongful death lawsuit primarily to address the misdiagnosis and raise awareness of bowel cancers.  She notes that early diagnosis is incredibly important for prognosis.

Colorectal Cancer Common in the United States

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States.  It is estimated that, in 2020:

• There were104,610 new cases of colon cancer
• There were 43,340 new cases of rectal cancer

The American Cancer Society’s statistics show that one in 23 people, or 4.4%, are at risk of developing colorectal cancer.  The death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping in the U.S. due in part to screenings that find the pre-cancerous cells before they develop into cancer.  Additionally, treatments for colorectal cancers have also improved meaning that there are now more than one million survivors of colorectal cancer in the U.S.

Legal Guidance for Families Suffering Misdiagnosis

If you or a loved one is suffering the consequences of misdiagnosis, it is important to learn about your legal rights.  You may have grounds to file a medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor responsible for misdiagnosis.

Filing a lawsuit cannot bring back a loved one or erase the pain you are suffering. It can help you move forward, however, with a sense of justice, peace and financial security.

Get the legal guidance you need by contacting MedMalFirm.com.  Our medical malpractice lawyers understand these types of cases.  We bring compassion and skilled legal representation to every client.  Find out how we can help you by calling us at 877-887-4850.  Or, reach out to us via our online contact form.