Utah Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The Washington Post reports that a federal task force has concluded that the routine performance of certain diagnostic tests may actually do more harm than good. For years, doctors have tested men for their prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, often as part of a routine physical. According to the task force, these types of tests may be unnecessary if they are offered on a routine basis.

Unfortunately, an unintended consequence of these findings will likely be that doctors will no longer perform the test, even when the patient presents with risk factors for the disease. Similarly, doctors who have performed the test may disregard elevated levels based on the belief that since the test is no longer routinely administered, the results are not important.

Notwithstanding the findings of the federal task force, PSA screenings can still be useful in the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. And when prostate cancer is detected early, it can be successfully treated in a number of ways.

If doctors fail to perform diagnostic tests on patients that present with well known risk factors, or if they ignore the results of such tests, it causes patients to lose the opportunity to make informed decisions about their treatment. In some cases, it can be considered medical malpractice.

If you or someone you know has received an abnormal PSA test, but the doctor did not follow up with you, you should seek a second opinion immediately. Additionally, if you have been receiving regular PSA tests, but have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may have a claim. The Utah medical malpractice lawyers at G. Eric Nielson & Associates are experienced in handling prostate cancer cases. You can call for a free, no obligation consultation today.


At G. Eric Nielson & Associates, Medical Malpractice is All We Do.

Labels: prostate cancer; misdiagnosis