Montana man given 6 months to live sues over incorrect diagnosis

[Dion]

A Montana man was given six months to live — so he quit his job, spent all his cash and considered blowing his brains out.

Mark Templin — in his mid-70s — sold his pickup truck, celebrated a "final" birthday, chose his funeral service and even asked his son-in-law to build him a box for his ashes.

Entering into a deep depression, he regularly broke down into tears and moved into hospice care designed for end-of-life patients.

He also prominently displayed a "Do Not Resuscitate" notice on his fridge so any first responders would let him die.

But the 2009 diagnosis of brain cancer from doctors at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center was wrong.

And this week the Helena native finally won $60,000 compensation for the serious error that made him believe for 148 terrifying days that he was dying.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-styl...icle-1.1340429

[Vulcan]

I was given 10 years to live in 1975. I don't think I'll sue.

[kirant]

He just took the diagnosis too seriously. Plain and simple. Exceptions exist everywhere...not sure why it's worth suing over.

The best outlier is probably Stephen Hawking, who was (if memory serves) given a "2 years to live" diagnosis at 21. He's currently 71.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by kirant

He just took the diagnosis too seriously. Plain and simple. Exceptions exist everywhere...not sure why it's worth suing over.

The best outlier is probably Stephen Hawking, who was (if memory serves) given a "2 years to live" diagnosis at 21. He's currently 71.

Oh wow, Hawking's 71 now? He doesn't look a day over 111100.

[gargamel]

I'm glad that the precedent has been set, because that's definitely something I would do.

Edit: Just read the full story. I meant I'd quit my job and spend all my cash, not enter a deep depression, break down in tears, and consider "blowing my brains out." Classy journalism there, by the way.

[puckluck2]

I'm confused. Was he misdiagnosed about his brain cancer or his 6 months to live? Thread title is a little misleading. Sounds like he's suing because he didn't actually have brain cancer.

[mrkajz44]

I think this is a terrible trend in the medical community. Things like this are only going to make doctors more weary of giving a diagnosis that the symptoms point to, even if it might be wrong a small percentage of the time. Doctors need some immunity to situations like this to continue to give the best medical advise they can giving the information at the time

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I think this is a terrible trend in the medical community. Things like this are only going to make doctors more weary of giving a diagnosis that the symptoms point to, even if it might be wrong a small percentage of the time. Doctors need some immunity to situations like this to continue to give the best medical advise they can giving the information at the time

I'm no doctor, but seems like there would be a pretty significant difference between brain cancer and a stroke. This isn't WebMD where any symptom likely means a terminal brain tumor, you need to be pretty sure about that before telling a patient. If the doctor was negligent or incompetent that lies on him and he should not have any sort of immunity.

Now, I don't know how often false-positives show up for brain tumors. If it is a likely occurrence I would understand your sentiment but if we got Dr. Nick over here someone needs to be responsible.

[Jbo]

You would think that knowing you are not gonna die would be enough of a gift...

[Playfair]

One would think he would be thankful and happy to be alive! What a gift!

[krynski]

Originally Posted by gargamel

I'm glad that the precedent has been set, because that's definitely something I would do.

Edit: Just read the full story. I meant I'd quit my job and spend all my cash, not enter a deep depression, break down in tears, and consider "blowing my brains out." Classy journalism there, by the way.

Right. By deductive reasoning, you know how you would feel because you have been told the exact same thing before?

[krynski]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I'm confused. Was he misdiagnosed about his brain cancer or his 6 months to live? Thread title is a little misleading. Sounds like he's suing because he didn't actually have brain cancer.

Both. He was misdiagnosed with serious brain cancer, and told he had 6 months of this due to the diagnosis.

If they had diagnosed correctly, his prognosis would have been considerably different.

This is why he sued.

[flamesfever]

With something that serious, I'd be getting a second opinion.

I recently met a man who, three years ago, was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer, and was told there was nothing they could do for him and to go home and make preparations for his passing. He went to another doctor who said he could help him, and gave him chemo. He and his wife have enjoyed the last three years, and have gone on three cruises.

There are all sorts of stories like this out there.

[Locke]

There is no way he should win this and its another indictment of an overly-litigious American society.

So he sold off all his crap and is ruined, that was still his choice.

When a doctor gives you a prognosis there are no guarantees.

I've got first hand experience of something very similar and if this is how this man reacted then really its nothing more than a reflection of his own character and how he has built his support system throughout his life.

[Locke]

Im just trying to re-read this and understand.

So, he doesnt have terminal brain cancer? If thats the case then yes, he should sue the hell out of the guy.

I thought this was just about the doctor's predicted time period being wrong.

[FanningTheFlames]

He probably couldn't afford a second opinion.

[FanningTheFlames]

Edit: And sank a lot of his own dollars in the first opinion. Just wonder what the problem is when McDonald's hot coffee lady got millions.

But yeah, you'd think he would be relieved not to have terminal brain cancer.