A woman from New Jersey recently filed a personal injury against a hospital and a practicing physician, alleging serious medical malpractice.

The woman alleges the hospital and doctor ignored her concerns that she might have had breast cancer, allegedly delaying her diagnosis and shortening her life expectancy.

Plaintiff Jennifer S. named Dr. Cynthia Abraham, Staten Island University Hospital, and parent healthcare company Northwell Health Inc. in her personal injury lawsuit, alleging each party was responsible for her worsened health condition. Jennifer says she was a patient of each of these defendants, and sought medical treatment and advice from them.

Overview of Personal Injury Lawsuit

According to the personal injury lawsuit, Jennifer started going to Staten Island University Hospital on June 1, 2016 to have an abnormality in her right breast examined.

Several days later, Jennifer claims, she received a breast exam by Dr. Abraham and confirmed there was a lump on her breast. Dr. Abraham then recommended that Jennifer undergo a mammogram and ultrasound of both her breasts and was later referred to a surgeon for a biopsy.

However, on July 26, 2016, Dr. Abraham allegedly reviewed the radiology reports of the diagnostic images and never ordered a biopsy for Jennifer or recommended any further evaluation.

Jennifer says she eventually moved to New Jersey, where she followed up with a new doctor in January 2018 because her right breast had become larger and painful. She underwent a biopsy in April 2018, which was later confirmed to be cancerous.

According to her personal injury lawsuit, Jennifer’s breast cancer had progressed beyond Stage I when it was diagnosed and had already spread to her lymph nodes. Jennifer opted to file legal action against Dr. Abraham and the healthcare facilities she worked for soon after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, alleging serious medical malpractice.

Jennifer alleges that as a direct result of Dr. Abraham’s negligence, her breast cancer was allowed to spread beyond her right breast when it could have been treated early on in 2016. In addition, Dr. Abraham failed to recommend sufficient diagnostic follow-ups or referrals.

Breast cancer is a devastating diagnosis that millions of women face, and is very curable in early stages. Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast reproduce at a rapid pace, typically from a tumor in the tissue. While breast cancer mostly occurs in women, men can also get this disease as well.

Oftentimes, breast cancer is diagnosed through mammograms at early stages and can be treated upon discovery. However, this disease can become potentially fatal if it progresses into the lymphatic system and spreads to other areas of the body.

While late diagnoses can happen for a number of reasons, it can be due to medical malpractice in some cases. This form of negligence is when a medical or healthcare professional does not give the necessary or proper treatment to patients, which ultimately causes injury to them.

Jennifer is seeking damages for all negligence allegations in her personal injury lawsuit, including all past and future medical expenses.

This Personal Injury Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-00518-MKB-VMS, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern New York.