Failure to diagnose is a common form of medical malpractice that can cause patients harm. Contact our law firm today if you have been affected by a doctor’s failure to diagnose.
A doctor’s failure to diagnose a medical condition can be a life-altering error, and in some cases, may prove to be a deadly mistake. Medical malpractice associated with a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose can occur when a hospital or doctor fails to recognize and treat symptoms associated with breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, appendicitis, heart attack or another serious medical condition. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in the state of Oklahoma, contact our reputable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center today. Please call us toll free or fill out our contact form to discuss your misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose claim today.
Common Forms of Failure to Diagnose
- Failure to diagnose breast cancer
- Failure to diagnose colon cancer
- Failure to diagnose lung cancer
- Failure to diagnose a malignant tumor
- Failure to diagnose appendicitis
- Failure to diagnose a heart attack
Failure to Diagnose Cancer – Doctor Responsibility
Medical malpractice suits arising from a doctor’s failure to diagnose cancer are among the most common malpractice claims and lawsuits in the United States today. Unfortunately, failure to diagnose cancer is also one of the most deadly medical mistakes a healthcare professional can make. When a patient whose cancer goes undiagnosed loses his or her life, it is incredibly difficult for the victim’s family members to let it go as just an “accident.” In most cases, it is critical that cancer is promptly diagnosed, in order to begin the appropriate form of cancer treatment. If any delay occurs in either the diagnosis or the proper treatment, the patient is the one who suffers the consequences.
Misdiagnosis of cancer can result from any number of mistakes, many of which can be devastating and possibly even fatal. For example, cervical cancer – a cancer that is typically responsive to treatment – is detected by the use of smear tests. If a test is misread and treatment is unnecessarily delayed, the patient faces the possibility of infertility or possibly even death. Misdiagnosis of breast cancer – another cancer that responds well to prompt treatment – is the cause of more misdiagnosis claims in this country then any other disease. Misdiagnosis of breast cancer can stem from an improperly read mammogram by a radiologist or the failure of a physician to recognize early warning signs of the disease. Failure to start an early treatment program for breast cancer can lead to the loss of the breast or even death.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in cancer patients. Misdiagnosis of colon cancer is often attributed to the misinterpretation of rectal bleeding or the misreading of a colonoscopy. Cancer of the esophagus is sometimes overlooked because of a doctor’s failure to recognize the significance of symptoms like severe weight loss, a prolonged cold, a severe cough and difficulty swallowing. The only definitive way to tell if cells are cancerous is through a biopsy, which is when a part of tissue that is suspected to be cancerous is removed and examined under a microscope to determine if cancerous cells exist. A misread or improperly sampled biopsy may indicate that the cells in question are free of cancer, when, in fact, the opposite is true.
Our Skilled Attorneys Can Help
Being diagnosed with any form of cancer is devastating enough. Unfortunately, when this diagnosis is delayed because of a doctor’s error, the results can be fatal for the patient. If you have been the victim of a delayed cancer diagnosis, contact our reputable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible. We have experience handling claims involving failure to diagnose cancer and other serious medical conditions. Please fill out our contact form or call us toll free; we are here to help.