Medical malpractice is a very real concern for many people when it comes to a disease as seriously life threatening as cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the number one cause of cancer related deaths, because the symptoms do not normally appear until the cancer is in its advanced stages. Some cases of pancreatic cancer; however, should clearly have been diagnosed by a physician. Negligence in patient care and misdiagnosed or undiagnosed pancreatic cancer can warrant the filing of a medical malpractice claim if it can be proven that injury was caused by the physician’s negligence.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Since pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose early on, due to the lack of clear symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if you are concerned that you may have cancer and are experiencing some of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the upper abdominal area that may continue into your back
- Jaundice (when your skin and the eyes of your eyes turn yellow)
- Depression
- Loss of appetite
- Blood clots
- Weight loss
The physician should then send you for cancer screening tests such as an ultrasound or computed tomography scan (CT scan) to help determine if pancreatic cancer is an appropriate diagnosis. If feel that you are being overlooked and are not getting the treatment you need, then it is crucial that you get a second opinion for an experienced physician.
Duty to Standard of Care
People who work in the medical field are required by law to maintain a standard of patient care that will ensure that every patient is care for as an individual and receives the treatment that they need. It is the duty of the medical practitioner to work under the established guidelines for patient care and give each patient the same treatment that any other reasonable physician would have in a similar situation.
Probable Causation
If the physician does not follow this standard of care and acts in a negligent manner towards a patient in leaving a condition undiagnosed, the physician can be held responsible for any injury that was caused by his/her negligence. Pancreatic cancer can lead to extensive medical treatment, surgeries, stress, costly medical bills and possibly death, so a physician’s negligence in leaving a case undiagnosed can be considered medical malpractice.
Getting Legal Help
It is extremely important that you contact a knowledgeable attorney if you believe that your physician has committed medical malpractice in not diagnosing your pancreatic cancer. An attorney will help you file a claim and represent your case so that you are able to recoup on some of the damages caused by the medical malpractice.
