An orthopedic physician will have to face a lawsuit over allegations he failed to diagnose cancer in a patient's leg, according to the Texas Court of Appeals.
Raymond Fulp, DO, was sued by the mother of Regino Gonzalez Jr., a patient Dr. Fulp saw for a left femur fracture in 2010, according to July 21 court documents. Mr. Gonzalez's mother, Juana Laguna, alleged that Dr. Fulp failed to diagnose her son's fracture as a pathological fracture caused by osteosarcoma during surgery. She also alleged that a surgery that inserted an intramedullary rod spread the cancer through Mr. Gonzalez's leg.
She filed her original lawsuit in 2013, court documents said. Mr. Gonzalez was added as an additional plaintiff when he "reached the age of majority."
Mr. Gonzalez had his leg amputated in 2011, and the cancer eventually metastasized to his lungs. He died in 2017, and his sister Joanna Gonzalez Acevedo, also was added as a plaintiff.
Wrongful death and survival claims were added in 2019.
Although the court initially dismissed claims against Dr. Fulp, the judgments were reversed.