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Victim of Unnecessary Mastectomy Awarded $198,000

Los Angeles, CA: A woman who was mistakenly diagnosed with breast cancer and consequently underwent a double mastectomy she didn't need to have, has been awarded $198,000 in a settlement approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Ana Jimenez-Salgado had her diagnosis of breast cancer confirmed by two pathologists who work outside of the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where she eventually had her breasts surgically removed. Both pathologists determined the cells obtained from an August 2007 biopsy were cancerous.

However, the hospital's pathologists later examined her breast tissue obtained during her reconstructive surgery, and determined that Ms. Jimenez-Salgado did not have breast cancer but rather "a benign condition with features that are very similar to cancerous cells," county documents state.

Ms. Jimenez-Salgado filed a medical malpractice lawsuit, alleging the hospital was negligent in relying on the interpretation of the outside pathologists. She also claimed the breast reconstruction surgery was negligently performed. The county acknowledged it failed to review the biopsy specimens, resulting in the unnecessary mastectomy. And, the hospital also agreed to pay Ms. Jimenez-Salgado's medical bills that were not covered by Medi-Cal, California's version of the federal Medicaid program. That amount was $24,756.

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Last updated on Dec-24-10