Waldrop v. Payne, et al.

Summary

In this medical malpractice trial, Tony Waldrop developed skin cancer that led to the loss of part of his ear, teeth, and salivary glands, along with a variety of other complications. Waldrop's widow, Patricia Waldrop, sues dermatologist Dr. Joseph Payne, claiming that he failed to properly treat the cancer, leading to its eventual recurrence.

Lloyd Bell, representing Waldrop, argues that Dr. Payne failed to follow the standard of care by not ordering further radiation treatments after removal of initial skin cancer near Waldrop's ear. He claims that these treatments, as well as ordering a biopsy of a cyst removed prior to the recurrence of the skin cancer, would have caught the cancer to prevent most of the serious effects suffered.

Dr. Payne, represented by attorneys from Huff Powell Bailey, claims to have followed the standard of care. He asserts that he followed up numerous times with Waldrop, that other physicians failed to catch the cancer's recurrence, and argues that tumors can be too deep to reasonably catch.