Colonoscopies Save Lives, but Medical Malpractice Costs Them
For some people, just the word “colonoscopy” is enough to make them shudder. We understand. At first thought, it can seem like a rather uncomfortable procedure. The truth is that for men and women or of a certain age, it is a very necessary procedure – one that can save your life, if performed correctly and by a skilled physician.
During a colonoscopy, a trained gastrointestinal specialist will use a colonoscope (a long, flexible tube with a light and a camera at the tip) to view your colon and your rectum. This allows the specialist to see if you have polyps – little clumps of cells that form on the walls of your colon. People at the greatest risk of developing polyps include:
- Men and women over the age of 50
- People with a history of gastro-intestinal problems, like Crohn’s disease
- People with a family history of polyps
- People who are overweight
- Smokers
For most people, these polyps are harmless, but since they’re only detectable via a colonoscopy, you still need to get checked out each year for them. That is because, over time, certain types of polyps can develop into colorectal cancer, which is the third most common type of cancer affecting both men and women in the U.S.
The good news is that colorectal cancer, when caught early enough, is treatable, usually through surgery (in the early stages), with chemotherapy, or with some combination of both. However, as the polyps that develop into colon cancer are only detectable through a colonoscopy, it is critical that you A) get tested every year, and B) are tested by a trained specialist who knows that to look for. Misdiagnosing these polyps, or failing to diagnose them correctly or even at all, is an act of medical malpractice that can have devastating effects.
Dr. Nabil A. Fam is a physician located in Lake City, South Carolina who is currently being sued for improper treatment related to a colonoscopy. In the complaint, a former fireman from Williamsburg County, South Carolina alleges that Dr. Fam found a polyp during a colonoscopy, did not remove it all and the person has developed liver cancer as a result of this malfeasance. Additionally, Dr. Fam is a surgeon, not a gastro-intestinal doctor, and yet was doing colonoscopies. He is alleged to have performed these procedures as a credentialed physician of Lake City Hospital.
At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we fight on behalf of medical malpractice victims in Florence and Williamsburg Counties, and throughout South Carolina. If you have had a colonoscopy by Dr. Fam or any other physician and developed cancer in other parts of your body, there is a reason to ask WHY? We aren’t afraid to take on the tough cases, and we have the skills and resources to hold grossly negligence doctors accountable for their inaction. If you or your loved one suffered with late stage colon cancer or metastatic cancer because of an act of medical negligence, we can and will uphold your rights. Please call 803-327-7800 or use our contact form, and schedule your free consultation with an experienced South Carolina medical malpractice attorney today. You do not have to go through this alone.
Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
Read more about S. Randall Hood