Those individuals who go into the medical profession, must often wear many hats. This is particularly true of doctors who are often called upon to be investigators, scientists, counselors and consolers. Above all, however, doctors are expected to draw upon their knowledge and experience to properly diagnose medical conditions and treat patients accordingly.

A man was recently awarded a $2.4 million dollar settlement related to a medical malpractice lawsuit he filed related to the misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of his wife's cancer. In the lawsuit, the man blamed doctors at a Pennsylvania hospital for failing to diagnose his wife's vulvar cancer for nearly two years. As a result, the woman died at the age of just 49.

In 2008, the woman was referred by her gynecologist to see a doctor related to troublesome and painful symptoms she was experiencing. In the doctor's referral, a recommendation was made to perform a biopsy to rule out cancer. This biopsy, however, was never performed. Despite this fact, however, a nurse at the clinic where the woman was referred assured her she did not have cancer.

For two years, the woman continued to experience painful and unusual symptoms for which she sought medical treatment. After a course of antibiotics, a biopsy was finally ordered at which time the woman was diagnosed as having cancer.

By this time, however, the cancer had spread. While the woman underwent both surgery and chemotherapy treatments, there was little that could be done by the time the cancer was finally diagnosed. Sadly, the woman died at the age of just 49.

The woman's husband filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital at which he wife was treated citing the hospital's negligence in failing to both diagnose and treat his wife's cancer in a timely manner. As a result of these negligent acts, the man asserts his wife died an untimely death.

Source: PennLive, "$2.4M settlement ends lawsuit against Hershey Medical Center over midstate woman's cancer death," Matt Miller, Sep. 27, 2013