Family of man disfigured by metro Atlanta dermatologist awarded $56.8 million

A Fulton County jury has awarded $56.8 million to the estate of Tony Waldrop, a Vietnam veteran, after determining that a dermatologist's negligence led to his disfigurement.

Waldrop had been receiving treatment at the VA for skin cancer on his right ear for several years. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. in 2013, he needed an appointment more urgently than the VA could provide. According to attorney Lloyd Bell, the VA referred Waldrop to Dr. Payne, who is also a veteran, to expedite his care.

During a procedure, Dr. Payne removed tissue from Waldrop's ear. When the cancer recurred in the same location, Dr. Payne excised it again but discarded the tissue without sending it for a biopsy, believing it to be a cyst, Bell stated. This decision proved detrimental, as the cancer returned within a couple of months and had spread deeply into Waldrop's face.

Waldrop's family reported that the disfigurement caused him immense suffering for eight years before his death. The Fulton County jury concluded last week that Dr. Payne's medical treatment fell below the standard of care and awarded the substantial sum to Waldrop's estate.

Bell expressed hope that the verdict would serve as a reminder to medical professionals to remain vigilant and avoid overconfidence, emphasizing that doctors, like everyone else, must maintain a humble and cautious approach to their work.