WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI ANN REIGERT and CONCLUSIONS FROM HER STORY
FACT: It is not known how or why 3 experienced pathologists and 2 experienced oncologists, located at or near large Cleveland, Ohio cancer centers, wrongly diagnosed that Lori Ann Reigert’s 4 cm lung tumor was “malignant melanoma” and reported that her cancer tumor was either:
metastasized from a rare, 3% of all melanomas, melanoma of unknown primary skin lesion (MUP), or
a primary melanoma tumor of a rare, 2% of all melanomas, mucosal melanoma or
a very, very rare primary pleural melanoma, of which only a few cases were ever known to exist
Despite the rarity of their diagnosis, they declined any further testing including the FISH test for rare Clear Cell Sarcoma cancer that was well known to closely resembles melanoma in microscopic testing.
FACT: It is not known why two experienced oncologists failed to disclose to the patient and to her family so that they could state their concerns and request more tests and/or a second expert opinion that although they had doubts when they had her rechecked for past and present melanoma skin lesions, they agreed pathologist’s “malignant melanoma” diagnosis which was actually a diagnosis of a very rare, non-lesion melanoma (MUP).
FACT: Two melanoma cancer experts examined her biopsy specimen and confirmed, without doubt, that Lori Ann Reigert was wrongly and fatally diagnosed with a rare non-skin lesion melanoma cancer instead of the rare clear cell sarcoma cancer, which closely resembles melanoma in pathology microscopic exams
IMO: Doctors have systemic immunity from medical malpractice lawsuits, even in cases of death with irrefutable evidence, because of bias Ohio medical malpractice laws, extraordinary legal costs and medical malpractice insurance that gives doctors unlimited legal expenses
IMO: Contrary to its stated mission and goals to protect residents of Ohio, the State Medical Board of Ohio refuses to investigate and discipline Ohio doctors for medical negligence as stated in their Mission and as required by Ohio Law regarding doctor’s violations of the minimal standards of medical care, ORC 4731.22(B)(6):
“(B) Except as provided in division (P) of this section, the board, by an affirmative vote of not fewer than six members, shall, to the extent permitted by law, limit, revoke, or suspend a license or certificate to practice or certificate to recommend, refuse to issue a license or certificate, refuse to renew a license or certificate, refuse to reinstate a license or certificate, or reprimand or place on probation the holder of a license or certificate for one or more of the following reasons:
(6) A departure from, or the failure to conform to, MINIMAL STANDARDS OF CARE of similar practitioners under the same or similar circumstances (see Dr. Dhir’s report), whether or not actual injury to a patient is established”.
Click To See The Ohio Medical Board Mission
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SAVE OTHER LIVES LIKE LORI’S
PLEASE BE INFORMED, IT’S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
IMO your oncologists relies on the pathologists diagnosis and communicates that cancer diagnosis and a treatment/care plan to the patient and family but:
the patient, with help from family, must be fully informed about the cancer diagnosis and cancer care. Ask questions and demand details.
in a matter of life and death cancer, there should be no hesitation by the patient or family to question the oncologists or request more tests or second expert cancer pathologist opinion for any rare or unusual diagnosis and
if necessary, demand that All hospitals and doctors, including University Hospital were Lori Ann Reigert was treated, honor their policies of the PAITENTS RIGHTS TO BE INFORMED which is posted throughout their hospitals, e.g. University Hospitals Patients Rights:
The Patient Has The Right To “make informed decisions regarding his or her care and treatment, be informed of his or her health status and be involved in care planning and treatment in terms the patient can understand”
IMO CLEAR CELL SARCOMA AND LIFE SAVING FISH TESTS HAVE BEEN IGNORED
It is difficult for LARSCAF, as Lori Reigerts family, to understand and to tolerate the cancer medical world’s indifference, for the last 30 years, to lives being unnecessarily lost because a simple FISH test has not been required or even recommended whenever there is a diagnosis of Melanoma of Unknown primary skin lesion (MUP) in order to rule out and misdiagnosis its known pathology mimic, Clear Cell Sarcoma cancer.
Click Here to See the LARSCAF Appeal to Pathologists Organizations that was Ignored
PLEASE SAVE LIVES THAT COULD BE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS
The Reigert family truly believes that if a FISH test had been done in the cancer case of their daughter and only child, Lori Ann Regert, SHE WOULD BE ALIVE AND HERE WITH US TODAY.
PLEASE SAVE LIVES like Lori Ann Reigert and appeal to the American Cancer Society at Contact Us | American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (fightcancer.org) and ask them to use their influence to require that all Melanoma of Unknown Primary skin lesion (MUP) diagnoses are FISH tested to rule out the known MUP mimic of Clear Cell Sarcoma cancer.