Sample Case: Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Timeline
Sample Scenario
In this sample scenario, a 38-year-old patient with a family history of colon cancer reports symptoms to their primary care physician over a two-year period. Despite persistent symptoms, the diagnosis of stage IV colon cancer is not made until 26 months after initial presentation.
LNC Approach
In a case like this, a legal nurse consultant would create a comprehensive chronology that includes:
- All primary care visits over a three-year period
- Documented symptoms and physician responses
- Referrals made and declined
- Test results and follow-up actions
- Standard screening recommendations based on family history
Sample Timeline Points
A chronology for this type of case might highlight key points such as:
- Month 1: Initial visit reporting fatigue and occasional blood in stool. Family history noted but no screening ordered.
- Month 4: Follow-up visit with continued symptoms. Diagnosed with hemorrhoids without examination.
- Month 9: Patient reports weight loss and increased bleeding. Basic blood work ordered but no colonoscopy.
- Month 14: Anemia detected in lab work but attributed to menstruation despite patient being post-hysterectomy.
- Month 20: Patient requests specialist referral but is told symptoms are not concerning.
- Month 26: Emergency room visit for severe abdominal pain leads to diagnosis of stage IV colon cancer.
Potential Impact on the Case
A detailed chronology like this could demonstrate multiple missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis. Medical experts might confirm that with earlier detection, the cancer would likely have been at an earlier stage with a significantly higher survival rate.
In similar cases, this type of chronology has helped legal teams establish clear timelines of care, identify deviations from standard practice, and demonstrate causation between delayed diagnosis and patient outcomes.