Sullivan Papain Secures $5.5 Million Settlement in Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Case
Sullivan Papain is proud to announce that firm member Eleni Coffinas secured a $5.5 million settlement in a medical malpractice wrongful death case involving the delayed diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
The lawsuit arose from care the patient received after a September 2019 breast biopsy identified a nipple adenoma. According to the claims in the case, the accepted treatment for a nipple adenoma is surgical excision because it may either contain cancerous cells or develop into cancer over time. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant nurse practitioner failed to provide the patient with appropriate instructions to obtain a surgical consultation and biopsy following the pathology findings.
The defense contended that the patient had been advised to see a breast surgeon. However, the patient testified during her deposition that she was never given that instruction and was instead told to return for follow-up in one year. Although the medical record noted that she could see a breast surgeon if she chose to, the plaintiff argued that this was not an adequate recommendation and failed to communicate the need for prompt surgical evaluation.
Approximately one year later, after the breast mass continued to enlarge, the patient underwent a biopsy and surgical excision. She was diagnosed with Stage III invasive metaplastic adenosquamous carcinoma with metastatic involvement of three of seven lymph nodes.
The patient underwent extensive treatment, including a right breast mastectomy, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Despite these efforts, the cancer spread to her chest wall, sternum, mediastinum, neck, and axilla. She passed away from metastatic breast cancer in October, at the age of 55, leaving behind her husband and two children.
The lawsuit alleged that had the patient been timely referred for surgical excision after the September 2019 pathology findings, her cancer would have been diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage, significantly improving her prognosis and preventing its progression to metastatic disease. The case was resolved while on the trial calendar for $5.5 million.
Learn More About Firm Member Eleni Coffinas
Eleni Coffinas, a member of the firm, is a vigorous advocate for people injured due to medical malpractice. Her legal skills and experience have helped her clients achieve many multimillion-dollar settlements. Ms. Coffinas handles all types of medical malpractice cases, including birth injuries, cancer diagnosis delay, and surgical and cardiac cases.
To learn more about Firm Member Eleni Coffinas, click here.