Recently, a medical malpractice lawsuit was filed on behalf of a woman who underwent a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy after a nurse practitioner misread the results of a genetic screening test. The genetic testing was performed to see whether she carried the gene that was linked to an increased chance of developing breast or uterine cancer. After being told that she was a carrier, and on doctor’s advice, she underwent the aggressive preventative procedures. The surgeons who performed the operations did not independently verify the findings of the nurse practitioner.
This case is an example of potential genetic testing malpractice. Genetic testing malpractice can occur where tests are performed negligently, or doctors failed to recommend a particular test, fail to advise the patient concerning the meaning of the results, or as in this case, fail to interpret the results correctly. Many genetic malpractice claims are brought against physicians, nurses, other health care providers, hospitals, and testing laboratories where a child is born with a genetic disease that wasn’t properly detected. In certain situations, proper genetic testing could have provided guidance prior to conception, or early intervention could have provided a better outcome.
Having the correct information allows doctors and patients to make the correct treatment decisions. When errors occur, the results can be devastating.
For more information please contact the experienced California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.