High six figure recovery for delay in diagnosing hemachromatosis leading to liver cancer

Hemachromatosis is a hereditary disorder in which the body produces an excessive amount of
iron in the blood. It is the most common hereditary disease among white males in North
America. The first signs of hemochromatosis usually come in the of liver function studies which
are abnormal for no obvious reason. When a physician sees a persistent pattern of abnormal
liver studies and has no obvious explanation for it, they should order more sophisticated tests to
check for the possibility of hemochromatosis.

This case involved a PCP who repeatedly over a 15-year period failed to do appropriate work-up
to investigate our client’s abnormal liver function lab values which were persistently elevated.
Had he done the proper work up, he would have discovered that our client had hemochromatosis.
After treating with the PCP for that long duration – – – and no true cause ever having been
established for his abnormal liver function studies – – – the client went to another PCP, and on his
very first visit, the new doctor immediately ordered the appropriate iron studies which should
have been ordered years earlier. Not surprisingly, they were significantly elevated and showed
that our client had hemochromatosis. He was referred to a specialist who did genetic testing and
confirmed the diagnosis of hemochromatosis. Unfortunately, further work-up with MRI and
liver biopsies revealed that the client had Stage IV Hepatocellular Carcinoma, i.e., cancer of the
liver, due directly to hemochromatosis. He then began a rigorous and debilitating course of
chemotherapy and radiation which lasted for nine months. Sadly, he died form liver cancer a
year later.

In this case, our client was not married, had no children, and was not employed, and therefore,
even though his plight was a tragic one, we were limited in the amount of damages we could
claim. The most obvious item of damage was for his pain and suffering. Additional damages
would have been available under Pennsylvania law if he had a spouse or children or was still
earning wages, but none of those facts were present in our case. Nevertheless, it was important
to obtain financial compensation as a means of accountability for the medical mistake that
occurred in his case.