A Doctors Negligence in Cancer Diagnosis

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.