What is a Colonoscopy and Risks of Negligent Performance?
What Is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure in which a physician uses a long, flexible tube equipped with a camera (called a colonoscope) to examine the interior of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It is one of the most commonly performed diagnostic and preventive procedures in the United States and is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening.
During a colonoscopy, the physician can view the entire lining of the colon, identify abnormal growths (polyps), remove polyps before they become cancerous, take tissue samples (biopsies), and diagnose conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, and colorectal cancer.
Why Is Colonoscopy Important?
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death. However, it is also among the most preventable cancers — when detected early through screening, the survival rate is high. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. Colonoscopy is typically recommended every 10 years for average-risk individuals.
What Are the Risks of Colonoscopy?
When properly performed, colonoscopy is a generally safe procedure. However, it does carry real risks — and some of the most serious complications arise from negligent performance. Known complications include:
- Perforation: A tear in the wall of the colon, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication requiring emergency surgery. Perforation rates are low when the procedure is performed carefully, but increase with unnecessary force, poor technique, or failure to recognize anatomical abnormalities.
- Bleeding: Particularly after polyp removal (polypectomy). Some bleeding is expected and manageable, but excessive or uncontrolled bleeding is a serious complication.
- Missed lesions: A colonoscopy that fails to detect a polyp or cancerous lesion — due to inadequate preparation, incomplete examination, or failure to withdraw the scope slowly and carefully — can result in a missed cancer diagnosis.
- Sedation complications: Colonoscopies are typically performed under sedation, which carries its own set of risks that must be properly managed.
Colonoscopy and Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania
Medical malpractice in the context of colonoscopy typically arises from: perforation caused by improper technique, failure to diagnose colorectal cancer due to an incomplete or carelessly performed procedure, failure to recognize and promptly address a complication, or failure to recommend appropriate follow-up when findings warrant it. If you or a family member suffered a serious complication following a colonoscopy in Pennsylvania — or if colorectal cancer was detected at a late stage after a prior procedure reportedly showed no abnormalities — consulting with an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you evaluate whether negligent care contributed to the harm.
