Personal Injury Law

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Against Swansea Doctor

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

According to the Madison and St. Clair County Record a woman has filed a lawsuit claiming that her physician failed to inform her of a mass on her kidney which was later diagnosed as being cancerous. Dr. Brad Ringhofer of Swansea served as the victim's primary care physician from June 9, 2006, through August 31, 2009. During that time period, Cordes underwent a CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois. The lawsuit alleges that the doctor failed to inform the victim her CT results which indicated a right rental cystic lesion. The lawsuit also claims that the negligent doctor failed to administer an ultrasound as a follow-up precaution.

A year later in 2007, the victim had another CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis and once again the scan should have received further evaluation but the doctor failed to follow-up again. Soon after, the victim sought consultation from another physician who diagnosed her with renal cancer. On October 15, her right kidney was removed.

Cordes alleges medical malpractice against Ringhofer because of his failure to inform her of CT results and the physician's failure to order follow-up examinations. Cordes seeks a judgment of more than $75,000.

A delayed diagnoss can have devastating effects on a patient because it can postpone treatment of a medical condition. In many instances, medical conditions can be treated more effectively if they are caught and addressed in their early stages. When conditions are allowed to progress, they can worsen and spread, making them harder to treat. In this victim's case, her kidney may have been salvaged if her original doctor had recognized and addressed the early signs of renal cancer.

Failure to treat a medical condition in a timely manner is a common medical malpractice claim. If a doctor or a healthcare provider delays either your diagnosis or your treatment, he or she is putting your health at serious risk. If you believe that your healthcare provider has committed a medical error by delaying your treatment, please consult a Chicago medical malpractice attorney.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on June 19, 2010 (boomark / email).