Patient-17
The MRI showed that the patient had possible bone cancer, but Dr. Bradford did not tell him. He only sent him to a doctor for pain management. The patient died. The family filed a lawsuit for medical malpractice and wrongful death.
Dr. Bradford failed to act on information that showed possible metastatic disease (bone cancer) in decedent Clark P. Schmutz. X-rays revealed multi-level degenerative disease of the spine and an aged fracture of the pelvis.
Dr. Bradford ordered an MRI. The MRI report indicated possible metastatic disease in the patient's spine and recommended a follow-up bone scan for further evaluation.
Dr. Bradford did NOT inform Schmutz of the possible metastatic disease, but instead treated Schmutz with pain medication and referred him to Dr. Ross Siebel, an anesthesiologist, for pain management injections.
During this time, Schmutz lost 40 pounds and was in severe pain.
Schmutz died just six days after a subsequent doctor read the MRI report, saw
the potential metastatic disease, and sent Schmutz to an oncologist who diagnosed him with bone cancer.
Expert witnesses agreed that Dr. Bradford's failure to note the possibility of metastatic disease caused a delay in diagnosis that was responsible for Schmutz's increased morbidity and suffering and contributed to Schmutz's death.
The patient's family filed a lawsuit against Dr. Bradford for medical malpractice and wrongful death. The case was reviewed by the Nevada Supreme Court in 2013 and was sent back to the District Court for further action.
The case was set to go to trial on July 20, 2015, but they must have reached a settlement because the court records show a monetary judgment was entered that day, along with a dismissal of the case.
Expert witnesses agreed that Dr. Bradford's failure to note the possibility of metastatic disease caused a delay in diagnosis that was responsible for Schmutz's increased morbidity and suffering and contributed to Schmutz's death.