ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A jury awarded a woman $9.7 million for a Central Maine Medical Center technician's failure to spot her cervical cancer on three pap smears, according the attorney representing the patient.
Ruth Hricko had four pap smears done at CMMC, a test regularly done to detect cervical cancer in women. The test looks for cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if not treated.
Hricko's attorney, Dr. Owen Pickus, said the same technician missed the cell changes on three of the pap smears, allowing the cancer to progress to an advanced stage. The technician finally detected the cancer on the fourth test, said Pickus.
Hricko and her husband, Michael, sued CMMC for the technician's error, and the jury sided with the plaintiff.
"CMMC is obviously disheartened with the jury's decision, stands by the care provided to our patients, and will review options for next steps with respect to this case," said Chuck Gill, Vice President of Public Affairs for Central Maine Healthcare in a statement.
Hricko is now cancer free after treatment.
