Men’s Health in 2025: What Every Patient and Medical Provider Needs to Know

As New York medical malpractice attorneys, we have seen firsthand how delayed diagnoses, improper screenings, and mismanaged care can have devastating consequences for male patients. In 2025, men continue to face serious health risks—including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and mental health issues—that demand timely, competent, and proactive medical attention. Unfortunately, when that care falls short, the outcome is too often life-altering or fatal.

1. Heart Disease

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among men. It includes conditions like heart attacks and strokes—both of which can be fatal without prompt diagnosis and emergency care. High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking are key risk factors. Failure to monitor or manage these risk indicators may constitute medical negligence.

2. Cancer

Several forms of cancer disproportionately affect men:

Prostate Cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men. Failure to recommend appropriate screenings or delays in biopsy or treatment can lead to advanced disease.
Lung Cancer continues to be one of the most deadly. Diagnostic delays are common, especially in non-smokers, where symptoms may be dismissed.
Colorectal Cancer is highly preventable with routine screening. Misreading colonoscopy results or failing to act on warning signs can be grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Testicular Cancer affects younger men and is often curable if caught early. A failure to perform basic diagnostic tests may result in unnecessary harm.

3. Stroke

Men are at higher risk of stroke, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes, or a history of smoking. Misdiagnosis or delayed treatment of stroke symptoms—such as weakness, vision changes, or speech issues—can leave a patient permanently disabled. Visit our stroke misdiagnosis page for more on this issue.

4. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

This common condition causes prostate enlargement, leading to urinary issues. While not cancerous, BPH can severely impact quality of life. A negligent failure to diagnose or treat urinary retention or infections resulting from BPH may rise to malpractice in certain circumstances.

5. Hypogonadism

Low testosterone levels can affect mood, energy, and sexual function. When a provider fails to investigate fatigue, depression, or low libido, the underlying cause may go untreated—impacting the patient’s physical and emotional well-being.

6. Sexual Health Issues

Erectile dysfunction and diminished libido are more than lifestyle concerns; they often signal cardiovascular disease. A failure to investigate these symptoms thoroughly could mean missing a critical diagnosis.

7. Mental Health

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are growing health threats for men. Too often, symptoms are dismissed or downplayed, both by patients and physicians. The stigma surrounding mental health must not excuse a provider’s failure to recognize or respond to red flags. Mismanagement of psychiatric care can result in tragic outcomes. Psychiatric malpractice cases require thorough legal review and expert testimony.

8. Preventative Care and Lifestyle

Far too many men avoid annual checkups or delay care until symptoms are severe. But physicians have a legal and ethical obligation to recommend appropriate screenings, counsel patients on lifestyle modifications, and act on reported symptoms in a timely manner. When they don’t, lives are put at risk.

If you or a loved one suffered harm due to delayed diagnosis, failure to treat, or other medical negligence, contact the top-rated medical malpractice attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf at (212) 943-1090. Our firm has recovered some of the largest verdicts and settlements in New York and represents victims of medical malpractice statewide.