Early detection of cancer gives a patient better odds of beating cancer. Therefore, when a doctor or medical provider fails to diagnose cancer, it is a serious medical error. Cancer misdiagnosis could be a death sentence for some patients.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, our West Palm Beach cancer misdiagnosis lawyers understand the devastation caused by a delayed diagnosis or a failure to diagnose cancer. Our personal injury law firm has been representing clients in West Palm Beach, FL, for over 28 years.
If you believe that your doctor misdiagnosed your cancer, contact our law office in West Palm Beach, or call us at (561)-556-7873 for a free consultation. Let’s discuss how we can work together to get you the compensation you deserve.
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How Our West Palm Beach Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help with Cancer Misdiagnosis Cases
The misdiagnosis attorneys with our West Palm Beach law firm understand the complexities of a cancer misdiagnosis case. We have the resources and skills necessary to handle these highly technical medical malpractice cases.
With over 28 years of experience, our West Palm Beach medical malpractice attorneys work to recover maximum compensation for our clients. We also place a high value on customer service and attorney-client relationships.
When you hire our legal team, you can expect us to:
- Investigate your case to gather evidence and identify the parties responsible for your cancer misdiagnosis
- Work with your physicians to determine the extent of your injuries and damages caused by the cancer misdiagnosis
- Retain medical experts and other medical professionals to assist in establishing the standard of care and the breach of the duty of care
- Document your damages and calculate the value of your damages
- File insurance claims and medical malpractice lawsuits
- Monitor the statute of limitations to protect your right to pursue legal action
- Aggressively fight to recover an amount equal to the total value of your damages
Reach out to our law offices to schedule a free consultation with one of our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys.
Negligent doctors, nurses, technicians, and other medical providers need to be held accountable when their medical errors and wrongdoing cause a patient harm.
How Do Doctors Misdiagnose Cancer?
Some forms of cancer are misdiagnosed more often than others. A survey of cancer specialists revealed that the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers are melanoma, breast cancer, sarcomas, and lymphoma.
A diagnosis of cancer can be terrifying. When the cancer diagnosis was delayed or incorrect, life-saving treatment may be too late for some patients.
Reasons for misdiagnosis of cancer include:
- Performing the incorrect tests
- Failing to perform diagnostic tests, such as ECGs, mammograms, prostate exams, MRIs, pap tests, ultrasounds, CAT scans, endoscopy, biopsy, colonoscopy, x-rays, EKC, etc.
- Understaffed medical facilities
- Improper collection or contamination of specimens
- Failing to refer patients to cancer specialists in a timely manner
- Lack of knowledge of specific types of cancer
- Performing medical services while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Failing to follow up with patients to schedule tests and procedures
- Mistakes and errors in reading results and interpreting imaging tests
- Diagnosing the incorrect type of cancer
In most cases, human error is a factor in the misdiagnosis of cancer. Medical professionals often fail to follow through with the steps to detect and diagnose the early stages of cancer.
What Are the Consequences of a Cancer Misdiagnosis?
The consequences of failing to diagnose cancer depend on the situation. Some parties can receive treatment and have a positive outcome. However, other patients are not as fortunate.
Delayed cancer diagnosis and misdiagnosis of cancer could result in wrongful death. The patient might not respond to the treatment as well as if the cancer was caught in the early stages.
Some patients endure unnecessary, painful treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation. The medical error can result in brain damage, loss of limbs, and organ failure.
Who is Liable for Cancer Misdiagnosis in West Palm Beach, FL?
In most cases, the physician who failed to diagnose or misdiagnosed cancer can be liable for any economic and non-economic damages caused by the misdiagnosis. The hospital, doctor’s practice, or another medical facility could be named as a defendant. A medical equipment manufacturer, testing lab, or another party may also be a defendant in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Economic damages and non-economic damages in a cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit may include:
- The cost of correctly diagnosing the cancer
- Past and future medical bills and expenses for cancer treatment
- Cost of personal care and in-home health care
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of income, benefits, and future earning potential
- Mental and emotional distress, anguish, and trauma
- Decrease in quality of life and enjoyment of life
The value of your medical malpractice claim depends on the facts of your case. If you sustain permanent impairments, the value of your damages may be higher than a patient whose cancer was caught early enough to avoid permanent disability or damage.
However, the malpractice insurance carrier or defense firm for the physician and hospital will not tell you how much money your claim is worth. You will need to discuss your case with a West Palm Beach misdiagnosis attorney to determine if you are receiving the maximum compensation for damages.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our West Palm Beach Medical Malpractice Law Firm
Medical malpractice lawsuits are complicated personal injury cases. You only have a limited amount of time to file your claim under Florida’s statute of limitations. Therefore, it is best to speak with a West Palm Beach medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact our office to schedule your free consultation with one of our cancer misdiagnosis attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL. We want to help you hold the negligent doctor and medical facility that caused your pain and suffering liable for your damages.
