In December 2024, a $16 million settlement was reportedly reached with a Pennsylvania hospital for the death of a 16-year-old who had gone to the emergency room on November 3, 2022 complaining that he had chest pain and had difficulty breathing. A chest x-ray showed a potential mass and the radiologist suggested a CT scan be performed but he was discharged without further testing that would have revealed that he had a treatable form of cancer in his chest that caused his death two days later after he struggled to breathe, collapsed, and his stepmother called 911: “He was grabbing at his throat and telling his stepmother I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. And the reason he couldn’t breathe is this mass that they knew that he had was compromising his airway.” He returned to the same hospital, where he died.
The family’s Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer stated after reaching the settlement, “Our investigation determined that, had the correct diagnosis been made, steroid administration would have shrunken the mass, relieving the pressure on Samson’s aorta and trachea, and then chemotherapy would have offered Samson a greater than 90 percent chance of a cure.”
The hospital’s CEO stated, “We understand that no amount of money could ever bring Samson back to his family. However, we hope this allows the family to focus on their recovery and future well-being.”
Pediatric Cancer
Cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases in the world, with more than 17 million new cases each year worldwide. Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide (more than 10 million deaths each year – one in every six deaths). Cancer is also a leading cause of death for children and adolescents.
Like all cancers. pediatric cancers are caused by genetic changes that result in cells growing uncontrollably in a certain part of the body. Some chronic infections, such as HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and malaria, are risk factors for childhood cancer. Current data suggest that approximately 10% of all children with cancer have a predisposition because of genetic factors.
Childhood cancer is less prevalent than cancer in adults: it is estimated that there are over 400,000 pediatric cancer cases each year in children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 19. However, because children are still growing and developing, their bodies may be impacted by cancer even more significantly than adults. The most common types of childhood cancer include leukemias, brain tumors, lymphomas, and solid tumors such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumor. In high-income countries where services are readily available, around 80% of children who develop cancer are cured. However, less than 30% of children in low- and middle-income countries are cured of cancer.
If you or a family member suffered harm as a result of cancer malpractice in the United States, you should promptly find a cancer medical malpractice lawyer in your state who may investigate your cancer medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your family member in a cancer medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
Visit our website or call us toll free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find cancer malpractice attorneys in your state who may assist you.
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