Cancer Misdiagnosis Due to Medical Malpractice
Categories: Misdiagnosis
Understanding Medical Malpractice From a Cancer Misdiagnosis: When You May Be Entitled to Damages
Misdiagnosis of diseases can lead to dire outcomes, including death. Specifically, cancer is prone to frequent misdiagnosis due to doctors failing to recognize symptoms, conduct appropriate tests, or accurately interpret results. Despite these unintentional delays in diagnosis and treatment, the consequences can be devastating, potentially resulting in the need for amputation, organ removal, or even incurability and death. It is crucial to acknowledge that cancer misdiagnosis constitutes medical malpractice, providing victims with the opportunity to seek compensation for the injuries they have suffered.
If you or a loved one has experienced a cancer misdiagnosis or faced delays in treatment, our team of experienced cancer misdiagnosis lawyers is here to assist you. By connecting with us at Medical Malpractice Universe, you can learn more about how we can support you in pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to. This compensation may cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
What is Cancer?
Cancer, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the body, arises from various factors. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer can originate from any location within the body. It occurs when cells undergo abnormal or damaged growth, leading to uncontrolled proliferation. Changes in cell function and multiplication contribute to cancer development, making it a genetic disease.
Multiple factors can contribute to the onset of cancer, including exposure to environmental toxins, inherited genetic mutations, and errors during cell division. Frequently, determining the exact cause of an individual’s cancer remains elusive, as it may arise without a clear explanation.
How Prevalent is Cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancers are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The incidence of cancer continues to rise, with a projection of new cancer cases per year to 29.5 million by 2040, with a rate as of 2018 of 18.1 million new cases each year. As of January 2019, there were approximately 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States.
The prevalence of cancer requires medical providers such as doctors, physician assistances, nurse practitioners, and other hospital groups or physician groups to be aware of and check for cancer constantly. This includes unexpected results from radiology scans or other treatments. Healthcare providers are already aware of how dangerous cancer is, and they must adequately lookout for this devastating condition. Since cancer is so prevalent, it requires them to be very wary.
What is a Misdiagnosis?
Misdiagnosis refers to a person receiving the diagnosis for an illness that they do not have instead of the correct diagnosis for the illness they do have. According to Healthline, approximately 12 million people are affected by a misdiagnosis every year, with 40,000-80,00 dying annually.
When it comes to cancer, people with a cancer misdiagnosis may be diagnosed with something far less dangerous, such as muscle strain, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or another disease that is usually not life-threatening.
What Types of Cancers are Most Commonly Misdiagnosed?
Certain cancers are more likely to be misdiagnosed than others. Examples of these cancers include the following:
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Melanoma
What are Common Signs and Symptoms of Cancer That Should Not Be Avoided by a Competent Doctor?
Every cancer presents with different signs and symptoms, but there are some symptoms and signs that many cancers share. Common signs and symptoms of cancer include the following:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Lymphadenopathy (swelling of lymph nodes)
- Pain
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Visual changes
- Seizures
- Night sweats
- Rash
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Hematuria (blood in the urine) or dysuria (painful urination)
- Abnormal blood counts (i.e. low or high white blood cell count, low platelets or low hemoglobin)
- Palpable lump or growth
A healthcare provider or doctor who ignores these symptoms may commit medical malpractice.
Why Do Cancer Misdiagnosis Cases Occur?
Cancer misdiagnosis can happen due to various reasons. Although medical providers never intend to cause delays in cancer diagnosis or treatment, such occurrences remain all too frequent. Moreover, individuals who receive a misdiagnosis often spend valuable time undergoing treatment for a different condition, unaware that their cancer is progressing. Some examples of factors contributing to cancer misdiagnosis are as follows:
- Inadequate physician-to-physician communication
- Lack of referral to the appropriate specialist
- Insufficient ordering of diagnostic tests
- Inaccurate interpretation of test results
- Incomplete acquisition of a comprehensive health history
- Inaccurate performance of tests (e.g., improper biopsy sampling, low-quality or incorrectly angled images), resulting in overlooked cancer diagnoses
- Negligence
- Lack of experience
- Disregard for patient complaints
- Delayed ordering of necessary tests
- Omission of a biopsy procedure
- Improper handling of biopsy specimens, causing result delays or necessitating additional biopsies
- Incorrect interpretation of imaging, leading to missed tumor detection
If Your Cancer Was Misdiagnosed, Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
Individuals who experience any delay or cancer misdiagnosis may potentially have a claim for medical malpractice against a negligent healthcare provider or practice group. Therefore, it is crucial not to postpone seeking compensation due to the existence of time limits on filing a claim, especially considering that cancer misdiagnosis cases frequently approach these time limits. If you or a loved one have been victims of treatment delays for cancer, take the initiative to locate and contact our experienced cancer misdiagnosis lawyers at Medical Malpractice Universe. We are here to provide guidance and assist you in the process of recovering the compensation you deserve.