I trusted Dr. Diehl and Summit Medical Group to help me during an incredibly terrifying time. In Feb 2018, he performed a biopsy on my right breast that proved to be malignant. He then performed a lumpectomy that he completely botched. He removed only a fraction of the tumor leaving over 90% of it behind including the biopsy clip - which he inserted! He then told me he thought the subsequent pathology report was wrong, that he did remove the entire tumor and that he wanted to go back in just to “prove it”. I shudder to think what he would have done if I let him. A pathologist friend, after reviewing my report and speaking with the Summit affiliated pathologist, recommended that I seek another provider. I then went to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in NYC where additional imaging showed that my tumor was still present with the biopsy clip clearly visible. They also reviewed my MRI from Summit Radiology and identified concerns in my left breast that Summit missed. The subsequent biopsy on my left breast that MSKCC performed showed precancerous lesions. I decided to have much more comprehensive surgery and reconstruction due to my fears that Dr. Diehl’s incompetence put me at higher risk of reoccurrence. When I contacted Summit Medical Group to complain about my experience and Diehl’s incompetence, their medical malpractice company told me that the care I received met Summit’s standard of care. So Summit and Dr. Diehl’s standard of care includes: not using best practice methods for locating and removing tumors; missing areas of suspicion on the MRI; causing compromised reconstruction due to scarring from botched lumpectomy; not giving any preoperative instructions; lying about their own pathology reports to protect their interests and then turning patients over to collections when they refuse to pay for malpractice (in my case for only $575); forcing patients to incur more expenses when their health insurance company refuses to cover tests done a second time (one was a $4,000 genetic test that had to be repeated once my entire tumor was finally removed) as well as subjecting patients to their rude and unprofessional insurance carrier. Please, think twice about using these people. Do your research. Too late, I found a record that Diehl settled a $500,000 malpractice claim in 2015.
And yes, I consulted medical malpractice attorneys who said that although I was the victim of malpractice, thanks to my excellent care from MSKCC, my outcome was good enough that we could not sue for high enough damages to make filing a suit feasible. So all I can do is warn others inside and outside the medical community. Facing cancer is scary. Take a deep breath and do your research. There are too many medical groups out there that put profits over people. Good luck and I wish you the best.
