Jocelyn-Dickhoff-Obituary

Jocelyn Irene Dickhoff

Obituary

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The 7-year-old girl whose rare cancer led to a precedent-setting malpractice ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court has died after fighting the disease since infancy, according to the family's attorney.

Jocelyn Irene Dickhoff was just 2 weeks old when her parents noticed a suspicious lump and took her to a doctor, who they alleged told them to keep an eye on the lump but not to worry because it may be just a cyst. But when she was 13 months old, a specialist diagnosed her with a muscular cancer.

Jocelyn died Saturday at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, according to lawyer Kay Nord Hunt.

Jocelyn rarely complained about her cancer treatments or the pain, except maybe when the migraine headaches got severe, her mother told the Star Tribune.

"She was a spunky little girl," her mom said. "She was very witty and had a comment for just about everything."

But cancer — and its side effects — took its toll.

"Just a month ago, I was brushing her hair in the morning and it kept falling out," her mother said. "I said, 'Jocelyn, I'm sorry. I don't know why this is happening now.' And Jocelyn said, 'I am on chemo.'? I said, 'Of course. Silly me.'?"

Kayla and Joseph Dickhoff sued Dr. Rachel Tolefsrud and the Family Practice Medical Center in Willmar in 2009, claiming their negligence reduced Jocelyn's odds of recovery because the cancer should have been diagnosed earlier. The two sides dispute how often the lump was discussed during Jocelyn's first year.

The state Supreme Court recently ruled that state law allows a patient to seek damages if a doctor's negligence causes that patient's chances of recovery or survival to be reduced — a significant shift from the way Minnesota had previously looked at malpractice claims.

Until the ruling, Minnesota was one of 10 states that did not have a "loss of chance" doctrine, Nord Hunt said. Now, she said, the state is in line with many other states.

Dissenting justices in the 3-2 ruling warned that the decision overrules longstanding precedent and would unfairly hold doctors liable for harm that may never materialize.

A funeral for Jocelyn will be held Friday morning at the BBE High School gymnasium in Belgrade, with visitation hours Thursday evening and prior to the service on Friday.

Along with her parents, Jocelyn is survived by her brothers, Reid and Liam, and her sister, Harper.


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RIH BEAUTIFUL ANGEL

May "the God who supplies endurance and comfort" be with the family at this grievous time. Rom 15:5

God bless your family

There is no pain in heaven. We cannot change the earthly outcome but God can make all things right in heaven. Your family now has a beautiful little angel to watch over all of you.

How hard it must be to loose a child. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

another guardian angel Grandma K Rancho Cucamonga Ca

What a brave, courageous little lady. May her courage carry her family through these difficult times. Always keep her close to you and her memories alive by talking about her with her brothers and sister and she will always be with you. She's running and playing nd having fun now without the pain. Shine brightly little angel.

Jocelyn inspired all of us and brightened our day during her treatments. So courageous and witty, and she got us all to PLAY and have fun. A joy to be with. We'll never forget her.