A Harpswell woman and her husband were awarded $1 million Friday, April 9,  in a medical malpractice suit that claimed cancer had spread through her body due to her doctor’s inadequate care.

The woman had recovered from breast cancer in the 1990s, which her doctor was aware of. However, when she complained of back and hip pain that became progressively worse, her doctor did not perform tests that would have determined if the cancer had returned and spread to her bones.

The doctor ignored her complaints of pain in several yearly checkups and did not make note of them in his progress notes, making it appear that she was pain-free during that time.

This verdict does not suggest that doctors must carry out an entire battery of tests every time a patient complains of pain, but instead that a doctor must listen to his or her patient and take into account their medical history in making accurate decisions.

The couple was also awarded an additional $160,000 to cover medical costs.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a negligent doctor or medical practitioner, contact the New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers of Levinson & Axelrod by calling 800-346-5529.