Failure to promptly diagnose cancer can be devastating for a patient, as it can allow cancer to spread and create medical complications that may not have existed had the doctor promptly diagnosed the disease. In the case of cancer, failure to diagnose can result in the need for additional surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and can even lead to death.
Additional treatment will likely be expensive and can prove to be even more overwhelming because the doctor’s proper and prompt diagnosis could have prevented the treatment. If you believe your doctor failed to diagnose your cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for the resulting expenses and pain and suffering that the doctor’s misdiagnosis caused. Contact a reputable St. Petersburg cancer misdiagnosis lawyer to discuss your case today. A skilled medical malpractice attorney could help you determine your options.
Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawsuits
A medical malpractice lawsuit is a type of personal injury lawsuit, where a doctor or medical professional’s negligent treatment of a patient causes additional harm. Because of the nature of cancer, failing to diagnose the disease will cause harm to the patient in nearly every case. Even a delayed diagnosis is likely to cause serious unnecessary complications. A St. Petersburg cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could help evaluate whether a cancer misdiagnosis was related to a doctor’s negligence, such as:
- Failure to suggest a follow-up appointment to monitor a cancer risk factor
- Diagnostic errors
- Failure to disclose pertinent medical information to the patient
- Failure to notice the symptoms or run appropriate tests
Medical professionals should be vigilant in evaluating any suspicious signs of cancer. A misdiagnosis or failure to diagnosis can be fatal. While not every case of cancer can be caught early, the failure to follow up with a patient or investigate signs of cancer may give rise to a malpractice lawsuit.
Compensation for Failing to Diagnose in St. Petersburg
Diagnosing cancer at the earliest possible stage is often the key to sending the disease into remission. More advanced stages of cancer often require more aggressive and invasive treatment, and even aggressive treatment programs may become less effective as cancer spreads.
A St. Petersburg cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could evaluate a cancer misdiagnosis case to determine the cause of misdiagnosis and potential compensation. Depending on the unique circumstances of a case, compensation may include the value of:
- Additional treatments required because of a delayed diagnosis
- Expenses relating to any performed treatments
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium or support
A St. Petersburg Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney Could Help
If a doctor ignores or glosses over any concerns that you present, or does not run tests that would diagnose the disease, cancer may spread and become increasingly difficult to treat. While it can be difficult to know whether a cancer misdiagnosis occurred, a knowledgeable St. Petersburg cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could investigate a claim, collect relevant evidence, and evaluate the potential for legal actions. If you suspect a doctor ignored or failed to address cancer symptoms, consult a compassionate lawyer to discuss your claim and take the first step towards recovery.
