What is Cancer Misdiagnosis?
Misdiagnosis of any disease or illness means delayed treatment and prolonged discomfort, but with cancer it also leads to significantly more pain and suffering, greater medical costs, and a decreased chance of survival. A cancer misdiagnosis is particularly unfortunate because many cancers—including prostate, cervical, and ovarian cancers— can now be effectively treated with early diagnosis.
Another form of cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a patient is diagnosed and treated for a cancer he or she didn’t have. In such cases, the issue is only compounded when the treatment for the cancer they were told they had causes a real cancer somewhere else in their body. For example, patients misdiagnosed with breast cancer and then treated with the drug tamoxifen may end up with uterine cancer.
Misdiagnosed cancer increases the risk and cost of treating the cancer once it is correctly diagnosed. Treatment then requires higher doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the same cancer at a later stage. Misdiagnosis can also lead to wrong treatment and death.
Causes of Cancer Misdiagnosis
A cancer misdiagnosis may occur for any number of reasons. Some of the more common include a physician’s failure to:
· Identify symptoms or confusing symptoms with another disease
· Order appropriate tests
· Interpret test results correctly
Whatever the cause of the misdiagnosis, the consequences—physical, financial, and emotional—are almost always devastating. Individuals who have suffered a cancer misdiagnosis have legal rights and should seek the counsel of a qualified attorney to learn more about their rights and options.
Contact The Law Office of Ron Perey
Medical mistakes are often preventable and those who suffer injury as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of a healthcare professional may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim to recover their losses. Recoverable damages often include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life, among others.
If you or a family member has been misdiagnosed with cancer, let one of our experienced medical malpractice lawyers evaluate your case—free of charge. We can answer your questions and help you hold responsible parties accountable. Contact us today.
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Perey Law Group, PLLC
1606 8th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 443-7600
Fax: (206) 443-4785