SPBMCC Partner Eleni Coffinas Obtains $4.65 Million Settlement in Delayed Breast Cancer Diagnosis
October 4, 2022 in Medical Malpractice
On July 21, 2022, SPBMCC Partner Eleni Coffinas successfully obtained a $4.65 million settlement on behalf of a breast cancer patient who received a delayed diagnosis of Stage 3C aggressive breast cancer.
45-Year-Old Brooklyn Woman Suffers Delayed Diagnosis
The plaintiff, a 45-year-old Brooklyn woman, suffered a one-year delay in her breast cancer diagnosis because multiple doctors misinterpreted the results of her mammogram and ultrasound scans.
In October 2015, the plaintiff presented with an area of thickness in her left breast. Over the next two weeks, she saw multiple specialists, including a primary care physician, a gynecologist, and a radiologist. Despite multiple tests, the plaintiff was never informed of the correct diagnosis and was never referred for further testing or monitoring, and did not receive an accurate diagnosis until November 2016.
Primary Care, Gynecology, and Radiology Facilities Fail to Diagnose Patient
After two weeks of initial testing, the plaintiff was misdiagnosed by three different medical providers with dense breasts, even though one doctor received a CAT Scan report that she had a 2 cm ovoid nodule in the left breast that required investigation. In November 2016, one year after her initial misdiagnosis while visiting her gynecologist for an annual exam she was referred for another mammogram. This conclusively found a mass in her breast, as well as 18 positive lymph nodes and Stage 3C breast cancer.
Two experts testified over a three-week trial, including a gynecologist who testified that the primary care physician who obtained the plaintiff’s CAT Scan that showed a finding in her left breast of an oval mass deviated from accepted medical standards in failing to communicate this to her and recommend immediate tests and failed to follow up with her. The expert gynecologist further testified that plaintiff’s gynecologist deviated in failing to have her closely monitored for this area of breast thickness and failed to send her to a breast surgeon for a biopsy.
Additionally, an expert radiologist testified that the defendant radiologist deviated from acceptable medical standards in failing to diagnose and report findings suspicious for cancer on the October 2015 mammogram and sonogram studies, namely areas of increased density suspicious for cancer, as well as skin thickening right at the location of where the mass was, and that those findings needed to be reported and acted upon.
Despite years of treatment, including chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiation, the plaintiff developed difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and chest pain in April 2022 leading to a diagnosis of Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Despite being back on chemotherapy plaintiff and her family attended the trial in Kings County Supreme Court.
SPBMCC Partner Eleni Coffinas On Behalf of the Plaintiff
The plaintiff sought legal representation through the medical malpractice unit at SPBMCC, and Partner Eleni Coffinas was the trial attorney. The prosecution and defense reached a total settlement of $4.65 million during the trial in Kings County Supreme Court. The settlement will compensate the plaintiff for the advancement in stage, pain, suffering, additional treatment needed, and recurrence due to the one-year delay in diagnosis. 
Learn More About Firm Partner Eleni Coffinas
Eleni Coffinas, a member of the firm, is a vigorous advocate on behalf of people injured due to medical malpractice. Her legal skills and experience have helped her clients achieve many multimillion-dollar settlements. Ms. Coffinas handles all types of medical malpractice cases, including birth injuries, delay in diagnosis of cancer, and surgical and cardiac cases. To learn more about firm Partner Eleni Coffinas, click here.