Levin & Perconti secured a $3.6 million settlement for the family of a young father who died after a radiologist failed to identify a pelvic tumor on an imaging study, delaying his cancer diagnosis by eight months. Founder John J. Perconti represented the family.
What Happened
On March 6, 1995, our client underwent an intravenous pyelogram, an X-ray procedure used to examine the urinary tract. The images showed significant displacement of his bladder, an abnormal finding caused by a tumor in his pelvis.
However, the radiologist responsible for interpreting the images failed to recognize the abnormality. As a result, our client did not receive the follow-up testing necessary to identify the tumor.
Eight months later, on November 10, 1995, a CT scan revealed a high-grade pelvic sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer that develops in connective tissues.
By the time doctors diagnosed the cancer, our client’s chances of surviving the disease had been severely diminished.
Despite his diagnosis, he died on July 16, 1997, leaving behind his wife and young son.
What Levin & Perconti Argued
The medical malpractice lawyers at Levin & Perconti argued that the radiologist and her practice violated the standard of care by failing to properly interpret the original X-ray images. The significant displacement of our client’s bladder should have prompted further investigation to determine what was causing the abnormality.
The attorneys maintained that recognizing the tumor in March 1995 would have allowed doctors to diagnose his cancer approximately eight months earlier, when treatment had a greater chance of success.
According to the evidence presented in the case, an accurate interpretation of the original images would have given our client a 50% chance of survival. By the time the cancer was diagnosed, that chance had fallen to zero.
“The most troubling part of this case is that the warning signs were already visible on the original images. Our client had a real chance of surviving his cancer if the abnormality had been recognized and investigated. Instead, that opportunity was lost because the radiologist failed to identify what was right in front of her.”
$3.6 Million Settlement
Levin & Perconti secured a $3.6 million settlement for our client’s family.
Our client was still a young man when he died, leaving behind a wife and son who would have to continue their lives without him. Had his cancer been identified when the first images were taken, he would have had a chance to survive.
For his family, the settlement ensures the radiologist answers for the delayed diagnosis of those first images, when there was still time to treat his cancer.
How We Can Help You
When a radiologist or treating physician fails to spot a clear irregularity on an X-ray, allowing an illness or injury to worsen unchecked, Levin & Perconti provides the legal representation needed to hold responsible parties accountable.
We start by sitting down to understand your situation, carefully reviewing your imaging records and medical timeline to evaluate your legal pathways during a complimentary, zero-risk consultation. Our firm concentrates specifically on complex medical negligence cases, regularly handling devastating diagnostic oversights, including missed fractures, overlooked tumors, unspotted pulmonary issues, and delayed interventions stemming from misread scans.
Through exhaustive medical investigation and unyielding advocacy, we fight for full compensation to cover your corrective procedures, specialized care, lost earnings, and the ongoing physical and emotional toll inflicted on you and your loved ones.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
