Quick Thinking Saved Our Client’s Delayed Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Claim
The Buttafuoco & Associates staff frequented a Middle Eastern restaurant near our office and became friends with the owner. We even had our Christmas party there one year. One day he mentioned his sister had breast cancer and doctors did not expect her to live much longer. After discussing the situation a bit further, we learned that he suspected a misdiagnosis of breast cancer.
Time Was Running Out for this Medical Malpractice Claim
We told him to send his sister over and we would work with her on a claim. Unfortunately, by the time her brother brought the situation to our firm’s attention, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice was set to expire the next day.
We faced a 24-hour time limit within which we had to develop a complete case of medical negligence, name the proper liable parties, and provide solid evidence that a missed diagnosis caused injury to our client. Typically, this work takes weeks, sometimes even months, but we had a single day. Thankfully, the brother had a former neighbor who was a top radiologist. He was able to obtain and read our clients’ old mammography films within two hours of our calls.
This miraculous case of knowing the right people allowed us to secure the proof that her cancer was detectable on mammograms taken well before doctors made the diagnosis. With this proof in hand, we filed her claim with only a few hours to spare.
It Paid to Question Her Doctor’s Actions
This case was a perfect example of being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people. Had our client’s brother told us about her situation even a day later, her right to file a medical malpractice claim would have slipped away.
It is unusual for a woman with a history of mammograms to look back on to be diagnosed with later-stage breast cancer seemingly out of nowhere. Had her doctors caught the cancer when it first appeared on the mammography films, her treatment could have come faster and been less critical.
Thankfully, our client is still with us today, and because of the seven-figure settlement that Buttafuoco & Associates helped her obtain, she does not have to worry about how she is going to cover her medical care. We are so happy we were in the right place at the right time and are honored we were able to help a local businessman and his family.
