Can I sue the hospital for ignoring a mass on my spleen?
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Can I sue the hospital for ignoring a mass on my spleen?
About 9 months ago I was hospitalized due to a sickness and pain. I was treated for the sickness but not the pain. X-rays were taken. A few weeks later, I was admitted to a different hospital for the same reasons and X-rays were taken. They found a “mass” on my spleen and that is where the pain was coming from. My spleen was removed. On the report from the first hospital, at the bottom, it said that I had a mass on my spleen but they had no concern about it. Can I take the first hospital to court for malpractice?
Asked on August 26, 2011 North Carolina
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
I am so sorry for your situation and I hope that you are on the road to recovery. Medical malpractice is a very tricky area of the law. In many states it requires that there be submitted an affidavit of sorts from a doctor that there was a deviation from the standard of medical care in order to even bring a suit. It does indeed sound like you have facts that give rise to a deviation from the standard of care necessary when they noted the mass on your spleen in the first hospital but did not address it. I would consult with an attorney in your area on the matter. If yo have the medical records from both hospitals that is helpful but the attorney will request them to review and see if you have a case. They also have to make sure that the acts of the doctor's caused you damage in some way in order to being suit. Good luck.
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