Failure to Timely Diagnose Colon Cancer Leads to Patient's Death

The Nations Only Malpractice Jury Verdict Reporter	May 2002

DIAGNOSIS ERRORS Failure to Timely Diagnose Colon Cancer Leads to Patient's Death S1 Million Settlement in Illinois. We thank Brian J. Lewis, attorney for the plaintiff, for sending us a report of this case. Fifty-one year-old Bruce Commean went to the defendant Dr. Hickerson in April 1998 with a three-day history of rectal bleeding. For the next two years. Dr. Hickerson failed to diagnose Mr. Commean's colorectal cancer, assuming that he only had complications with hemorrhoids. Mr. Commean was eventually diagnosed with Stage IV rectal adenocarcinoma with severe liver metastasis in August 2000 and died on October 23, 2000. Survivors were his wife of twenty-five years and two adult daughters. Butch owned and operated an industrial exterior cleaning company at the time of his death. This case settled for $1,000,000. Plaintiffs Experts: John Sutherland, M.D., family practice, Waterloo, LA. Tina Heiken, M.D., oncology, Chicago, IL. Defendant's Expert: Harvey Golomb, M.D., oncology, Chicago, IL. Teresa Commean, individually and as Executor of the Estate of Bruce Commean, Deceased v. OSF Health Care System and Robert Hickerson, Jr,, M.D., Knox County (IL) Circuit Court, Case No. 2000 L 48. Robert S. Baizer and Brian J. Lewis, Baizer and Kolar, Highland Park, IL for the plaintiff. Paul C. Estes, Hinshaw and Culbertson, Peoria, IL for the defendants.