Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia, formerly Einstein Medical Center, was recently cited by local health inspectors for providing incorrect mammogram results to patients. Sarah Gantz authored an article for the Philadelphia Inquirer dated September 26, 2024, wherein she describes how Jefferson Einstein (“Einstein”) incorrectly informed patients their mammogram results showed “no sign of breast cancer.” However, these patients subsequently learned the results were inconclusive requiring follow-up.
This news comes after at least two women have reported receiving incorrect results. Now, these patients have been diagnosed with breast cancer when they would have been able to identify and treat the problem much earlier. One of these women filed a lawsuit in June of this year.
Einstein staff issued an incorrect notification letter to one patient identifying the misclassification of the test results and referring her for follow up care. The other patient was eventually called back for more testing. Health inspectors believe the failure to identify the inconclusive test results comes at a time when health inspectors were not conducting quality control audits at the hospital. Einstein’s protocols have since been updated, including those to its electronic medical records system, and the monitoring of daily letters. Nonetheless, these remedial measures may be too little too late.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends mammogram screening starting at age 40 for those with an average risk of developing the disease. For those at high-risk, screening should commence by age 30. Federal law requires that patients be notified of their test results within 30 days.
If you or a loved one have received incorrect test results, the breast cancer misdiagnosis attorneys at Anapol Weiss are here to help. Please contact medical malpractice team leads Kila Baldwin, Marni Berger or Jillian Casarella for assistance at (215) 608-9645.
