A wide-ranging lawsuit for up to 2. 5 million NIS has been filed in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court against Clalit Health Services, alleging medical malpractice that resulted in a late diagnosis of colon cancer. The plaintiff, who was 54 at the time, claims that over a five-year period, abnormal test results accumulated without the medical staff explaining their clinical significance or the risks associated with failing to undergo follow-up procedures. According to N12, the statement of claim details a series of positive fecal occult blood tests; the plaintiff alleges that medical staff failed to provide detailed explanations regarding the urgent need for a colonoscopy to rule out malignant processes.
In one instance, it is alleged that after a failed telephone attempt, no further proactive measures were taken to contact the patient and explain the gravity of the findings. It was only five years after the initial test that the invasive procedure was performed, revealing an advanced malignant tumor that occupied the intestinal space. Following the diagnosis, the plaintiff was forced to undergo complex surgical procedures and rounds of oncological treatments.
According to an internal medicine expert, whose opinion the plaintiff attached, there was a failure in clinical practice, as the attending physician did not make sufficient efforts to update the patient and clarify the risks. Furthermore, it is argued that the average patient cannot be expected to understand the significance of test results without appropriate guidance. Another oncology expert added that early diagnosis could have prevented the reduction in the woman's life expectancy; according to the expert opinion, her current survival rate is only 40% for the next five years.
The law firm of Raphael Almog & Co. , representing the plaintiff, emphasized that patients' lack of medical education requires medical staff to take proactive measures to ensure life-saving tests are performed. In response, Clalit Health Services stated that the lawsuit was recently received and that a detailed response will be provided during the ongoing judicial proceedings. It should be noted that these are only allegations that have not yet been decided by a court.