Wrongful deaths caused by misdiagnosed or undiagnosed cancer are on the rise. Early detection of cancer is a key factor in successful treatment, higher survival rates and decreased costs. In essence, the most common instances of medical negligence include:
- Failure to test when a patient exhibits indicative signs and symptoms
- misread test results
- Failure to perform a biopsy when results of physical exam are abnormal
- failure to refer an oncologist when appropriate
- Failure to recommend appropriate treatment options
It is estimated that nearly 12 percent of all cancer diagnoses nationwide may be in error. A wrong diagnosis of cancer is seldom intentional, but a lack of intent is of little or no comfort to those confronted with the life-altering judgment of cancer.
How Misdiagnosis Occurs
Cancer Misdiagnosis can most frequently be attributed to:
- A non-cancerous (or benign) tumor is identified as malignant (cancerous)
- A cancerous lesion is missed in the biopsy procedure
- A malignant mass is diagnosed as benign
- Failure to refer a patient to a specialist for further testing
- A malignant tumor is misclassified as to type or misgraded as to aggressiveness
- Specimens are mishandled by pathology, or improperly read or interpreted
- Failure to follow up with a patient if cancer should have been suspected
- Failure to adequately screen for increased risk patients
- Recommending a negligent medical testing procedure
- Failure to understand or notice the nature of a patient’s complaints
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Undiagnosed Cancer
Each year thousands of people are misdiagnosed with cancer, or suffer due to a failure to diagnose cancer. If your doctor has made such a mistake, or are a victim of a negligent testing procedure, you may have cause to take legal action. You should consult with a medical malpractice attorney to review your case.
