ONE WOMAN'S STORY

The following is both heroic and tragic events in the life of one woman. She has been a great friend for over six years now. Her friends and I have shared both the joys of the spirit of her strength and beauty as well as the emotional roller coaster when cancer struck “without warning.” It was really not “without warning” but do to negligence on the part of one Doctor and the medical labs that were used to do her testing her bi-annual pap tests indicating cervical cancer went undetected for four years.

Please believe that I have the utmost respect for the medical profession. The majority of Doctors adhere to the being the best health care professional they can be

As in any profession there are the great ones, the good ones and the negligent one. From 1965 to 1969 I worked as a court reporter in the Workmen’s Compensation courts of New Jersey. I would hear as many as 17 cases a day with a doctor testifying one for each side. Sometimes I would have one case that would run for months with top professionals testifying on each side. There were many great doctors that I met during this time and a few that I would let them treat me for a headache.

Every once in a while a Doctor becomes above themselves perhaps gets too successful and does not pay attention. This was I believe what happened to my friend. The GYN practice that the one woman Doctor had was a large practice in Philadelphia. Somehow the test results and the lab work was not matching up but fell through the cracks. My friend’s cancer when undetected for four years. Her prognosis was slim.

She survived two years of extensive chemotherapy, endless operations and endless radiation. Her cancer was cured and in remission. The doctor was found guilty of negligence and cannot get medical insurance anywhere in the tri-state area. The lab admitted to being partly at fault and settled. The moral is insisting on having all test results retested at another lab. Go to a different doctor yearly for an “outside” check up. My friend has a new lease on life but will always be looking over her shoulder.

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