A Pacific County fisherman diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer is suing the federal government, alleging doctors failed to follow up on warning signs of the disease until it had spread, potentially costing him the chance at curative treatment.
Mark Tucker, 56, and his wife, Hollie Tucker, filed the medical negligence lawsuit Oct. 2 in US District Court in Tacoma.
The couple alleges that a physician at the Shoalwater Bay Tribal Clinic failed to properly monitor Tucker’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, delaying his cancer diagnosis by more than a year.
By the time Tucker was diagnosed in January 2025, he had high-risk prostate cancer, according to the complaint.
Imaging two months later revealed the disease had spread to his lymph nodes, forcing doctors to abandon plans to surgically remove his prostate, he claims.
The lawsuit alleges the delay deprived Tucker of access to potentially curative treatment and caused significant pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
Court documents outline a series of medical appointments dating back to September 2020, when Tucker visited the clinic for an annual examination.
During that visit, a doctor ordered a PSA blood test, commonly used to screen for prostate cancer. Tucker’s result was 2.6 nanograms per milliliter, within normal limits.
When Tucker returned in September 2021, another PSA test showed his level had increased to 3.8.
Although the result remained within the normal range, the increase was notable, according to the lawsuit.
The doctor documented the change and recommended repeating the test the following year but did not refer Tucker to a urologist, according to the complaint.
Tucker returned to the clinic in November 2023 with several health concerns, including nocturia, a condition involving frequent nighttime urination.
Despite the earlier increase in his PSA level and the reported urinary symptoms, the doctor did not order another PSA test during that visit, even though other bloodwork was ordered.
More than a year later, during a routine examination in December 2024, the same doctor ordered another PSA test.
This time, Tucker’s level had climbed to 12.9, substantially above the normal range.
The doctor referred Tucker for an urgent urology evaluation.
A prostate biopsy performed in January 2025 confirmed high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma, with a Gleason score of 4+5, indicating an aggressive form of the disease, according to the lawsuit.
By March, additional imaging showed the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes.
According to the complaint, the discovery prompted doctors to abandon plans for a prostatectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland. Tucker instead began treatment involving multiple approaches.
The couple alleges that the clinic’s failure to properly follow up on earlier test results and order additional testing in 2023 delayed Tucker’s diagnosis and limited his treatment options.
The lawsuit accuses the federal government of medical negligence, arguing that it is legally responsible for the actions of Bell and other qualifying employees of the tribal clinic.
Although the alleged negligence occurred at the Shoalwater Bay Tribal Clinic, the United States is named as the defendant under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows certain negligence claims involving federally covered tribal healthcare programs to be brought against the federal government.
The couple is seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Hollie Tucker is also seeking damages for loss of consortium, a legal claim involving the loss of companionship and other benefits of a marital relationship resulting from a spouse’s injury.
The lawsuit does not specify a dollar amount.
