Recent Medical Malpractice Claims
We’re not even through the 1st quarter of 2026, and already, several medical malpractice claims have come to a close, with rather impressive settlements. The settlements range from $2 million to $60 million.
Wrong Diagnosis by Philadelphia Doctors Leads to Major Surgery
It’s a $35 million settlement for a Philadelphia woman who underwent major surgery following a cancer diagnosis. According to Expert Isis Spencer, a 45-year-old woman who underwent a full hysterectomy after being told she had advanced endometrial cancer, only to learn after surgery that she never had cancer.
According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Spencer’s false-positive misdiagnosis was caused by contaminated biopsy slides at Main Line Health that mistook another person’s DNA for her own. After receiving the results, which indicated Spencer tested positive for grade 2-3 endometrial cancer, she sought a second opinion at Penn Med.
Despite a biopsy taken at Penn Med returning negative for cancer, Spencer was still encouraged to undergo a total hysterectomy. As part of the complaint, Spencer outlined the damages that occurred as a result of the misdiagnosis and the following hysterectomy,”
which included early menopause.
Gender Surgery Leads to $2M Settlement
ETWN News reported that a Westchester County, New York, jury awarded $2 million to Fox Varian, a young woman who previously identified as male and underwent a double mastectomy at age 16 in 2019. The jury found psychologist Kenneth Einhorn and surgeon Simon Chin liable for medical malpractice, concluding they failed to meet the standard of care in evaluating and preparing her for the procedure. The award includes $1.6 million for past and future pain and suffering and $400,000 for future medical expenses.
The case has drawn national attention as potentially the first malpractice verdict of its kind to reach trial, with similar lawsuits reportedly pending in other states.
All Medical Malpractice Claims Aren’t The Same
Medical malpractice can take many forms, but most claims fall into several core categories.
- Improper treatment occurs when a physician provides care that no reasonably competent doctor would have given, or administers the correct treatment in a negligent way.
- Failure to diagnose involves missing or misidentifying a condition that another competent physician would have properly recognized.
- Failure to obtain informed consent happens when a doctor does not adequately warn a patient of known risks before a procedure or treatment.
- Surgical malpractice can include operating on the wrong body part, performing an avoidable surgical error, or operating outside the designated area.
- Failure to refer to a specialist may be malpractice when a general practitioner does not consult or refer a patient to a qualified specialist in complex cases that require advanced expertise.
Steps to Take After Suspected Medical Malpractice
If you suspect medical malpractice involving yourself or someone you love, do not ignore your instincts. The Lapidus Law Firm has nearly five decades of experience advocating for injured clients and understands how to build strong, evidence-based claims. If you believe negligence may have occurred, call 202 785-5111 for a consultation. We will fight to make it right.