Colorectal Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawsuit Filed Over Doctor Missing Symptoms

A cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit was filed last month in West Virginia by a man who alleges his doctor failed to diagnose colorectal cancer after he complained of symptoms for more than 18 months that could have led to diagnostic testing and discovery of illness.

The West Virginia medical malpractice lawsuit was filed by Timothy A. Walden Sr. against Dr. Ahmad Maraikayer in Kanawaha Circuit Court, according to a report in the West Virginia Record. The plaintiff alleges that the doctor failed to make a timely diagnosis of his colorectal cancer and ignored requests for further testing.

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is cancer that affects the colon or rectum. It is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world, and the second leading cause of cancer death, according to the World Health Organization.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer depend on the location of the tumor, but can include:

• Changes in bowel movements
• Abdominal Pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• The feeling of incomplete bowel movements
• Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
• Dark, black stools that appear “tarry”
• Vomiting

Colorectal cancer can take years to develop and can be detected by a number of screening methods, including colonoscopy, digital rectal exam, fecal occult blood tests and sigmoidoscopy. If detected in the early stages, it can often be cured. However, a delayed colorectal cancer diagnosis can allow it to spread to other organs, making it much more difficult to treat or cure.

After first seeing Dr. Maraikayer in June 2006, Walden was diagnosed with cancer in January 2008. The colorectal cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for allegedly failing to provide the proper standard of medical care.