Case Description

The reason I want to take legal action against this doctor is because the doctor intentionally misled, persuaded, and provoked me into undergoing surgery even though he did not know how to diagnose the small reddish lump I was inquiring about on my lower lip. Instead of referring me to a dermatologist, he immediately advised to have it removed for testing or risk the chance that it could be cancer. There was a conflict of interest because this physician also happens to be a general surgeon whose income is dependent on the number of procedures he performs. He failed to inform me of any implications of surgery and kept reassuring me that I have nothing to worry about even though I repeatedly expressed my concerns over scarring and my high insecurity about my lip to the point that it was holding me back from talking to people face to face. The surgery was unbelievably invasive considering how tiny the bump was. He ended up stitching my lip on two different levels exposing the nerves and a hideous lump formed below the tight stitching. He thoughtlessly cut the inside of my lip which is still painful as it constantly rubs against my teeth and tongue, an area that was cut but was not even operated on. Any reasonably physician would have referred me to a dermatologist first even if they were definite that it was cancer and surgery should have been the last resort performed by a facial plastic surgeon who is properly trained in this area to minimize the incision and scarring. He was reckless and had total disregard for aesthetics causing major scarring and a deformity to my lip. He was completely aware that I was not making a fully informed decision and my eventual agreement to undergo surgery was due to the fact that he made me distressed that I may have cancer on my face. The result of the surgery and conduct of this doctor caused me to suffer from anxiety attacks, shortness of breath, and I fell into a state of depression. I cannot eat, sleep, or function normally. I haven’t left my house for the last 2 months except to get food. This will undoubtedly affect my job prospects, my ability to date, my self-confidence, and has already affected my quality of life.

Is this doctor liable? Please help me any way you can.