Medical malpractice almost cost chef his tongue

Acclaimed Chicago chef Grant Achatz has reached an undisclosed settlement with a dental clinic in a missed-cancer diagnosis case. The case involved a cancerous growth in a place where it could have ended the of Achatz – it was on his tongue. Achatz years ago noticed a small, white dot on the left side of his tongue about the size of a bread crumb, according to an account in The Chicago Sun-Times. A dentist thought it was merely a stress-related irritation from gnawing his tongue and prescribed a mouth guard. A biopsy was performed that came back negative. But a few years later the growth became larger and painful. Another mouth guard was prescribed. But the chef changed dentists and this time a biopsy found the presence of Stage IV cancer. The chef was told he would lose three-fourths of his tongue to surgery. But Achatz eventually went to the University of Chicago, underwent chemotherapy and radiation and is now cancer-free. He continues to operate several highly touted Chicago eateries, including Alinea and Next. Learn more about cancer case lawsuits.