Cancer Misdiagnosis
Cancer is a disease with many different causes and outcomes. The development of cancer can occur in many parts of the body. Depending on the type of cancer, it can either be cured or lead to the patient’s death. Early diagnosis and treatment is key to any cancer. Both diagnosis and treatment methods have changed dramatically over the years. Chances of survival have significantly increased due to improved diagnosis and treatment methods.
Most cancers have a genetic predisposition and no specific external cause or trigger. This means the likelihood of a child or sibling developing the same type of cancer increases. Since doctors can not cause cancer to develop within a patient, any medical malpractice or negligence claim will focus on the delay or misdiagnosis of cancer. Once cancer is diagnosed, treatment starts immediately. Cancers that are treated at a lower stage have a higher rate of survival. The key is to prove the cancer could have and should have been diagnosed at a lower stage to prove medical malpractice. The focus could also be on the treatment decisions after diagnosis that may not comply with modern treatment advances.
Delay/Failure to Diagnose Cancer
The type of cancer is the most crucial aspect of any misdiagnosing medical malpractice or negligence case. Ignoring specific symptoms is not enough. It needs to be proven that earlier diagnosis would have improved the treatment outcome and have had significantly better results. Some cancers have a poor outcome regardless of when they are diagnosed. Medical malpractice claims will be difficult to prove in those types of cancers because it will be hard to prove that early detection would have changed the outcome. On the other hand, improvements in some cancer treatments have resulted in better outcomes, even for late-stage diagnoses.
If you or a loved one suffers from a misdiagnosis, it could be the result of medical malpractice or negligence. Contact an attorney today to have your case evaluated. CALL US ANYTIME (281) 475-4535 or fill out a consultation form here to start the process.