It is difficult to fathom, with the prominence of cancer in the United States, that doctors continue to misdiagnose cancer in almost fifteen percent of cancer patients. The delay in diagnosis can have serious consequences for those patient as the cancer has more time to grow. Treatable cancers may metastasize into something very difficult to treat because of the misdiagnosis. As is true with any medical malpractice claim, you will need a reputable and resourceful attorney to work closely with medical expert witnesses to establish your claim and help you and your family recover the damages from the delayed diagnosis. Bryan Caulfield has the experience you can count on to handle your complex medical malpractice claim for your misdiagnosis.
Factors that Often Lead to a Misdiagnosis of Cancer
There are a number of negligent actions on behalf of your doctor that can cause a misdiagnosis of cancer. These include:
- Failure to perform the proper diagnostic tests
- Biopsy or procedure performed inadequately
- Wrong readings for tests’ results
- Dismissal of a tumor as a benign cyst
- Technological malfunction
- Lost or wrong lab tests results
- Misinterpreted x-rays or cat scans
- Failure to refer patient to the right specialist
Many factors can lead to the misdiagnosis of cancer. You must be an advocate for your own health in all circumstances. If you still suffer symptoms after your doctor has given you a diagnosis as something other than cancer, you must take the initiative to continue to search for answers.
What You Need to Do if You Have Been Negatively Affected by a Misdiagnosis of Cancer
There are several imperative steps you should take once you have received a cancer diagnosis and you feel you should have been diagnosed at an earlier point:
- Ensure you get the proper treatment immediately for your cancer.
- Contact a medical malpractice attorney to begin your claim. Bryan Caulfield will take you step-by-step through the process.
- Keep a file with all pertinent medical records and tests’ results. Include invoices for all appointments, tests, and lab work.
How an Attorney Can Help
Once you have set your medical care in motion, you need to contact Bryan Caulfield to begin your medical malpractice claim. Caulfield understands the many defenses healthcare providers will attempt to claim, and our firm can establish the medical proof you need to counter their defense. Contact our medical malpractice team today.