Early Cancer Detection is Key but Cancer is the Most Misdiagnosed Health Condition

 Posted on January 23, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

New research has found that colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer are now the leading three health conditions that are most commonly missed by physicians. This stands to be extremely detrimental for cancer patients. Often, when cancer is not quickly caught it spreads throughout the body. Early detection is still the key to saving lives but unfortunately, 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. These medical errors result in various health complications and in some cases death. If you or a loved one has been misdiagnosed you could have a medical malpractice lawsuit on your hands.

Misdiagnosis Pitfalls

It can be difficult for physicians to diagnose complicated health conditions and we acknowledge that not every missed diagnosis can be considered a medical malpractice claim. However, new research found at least 21 pitfalls when it comes to making the right diagnosis. These are some of the top reasons why a diagnosis can be delayed or incorrectly made:

• Mistaking one disease for another

• Failure to understand the limitations of various tests

• Atypical disease presentations

Was the Medical Standard of Care Violated?

Under the state of Illinois for medical malpractice cases, if the behaviors of a physician fall below what the accepted medical standard of care is for their specialty then they may be liable for any injuries. The standard of care is defined as the same degree of knowledge, skill, and ability as an ordinary medical professional who is careful would exercise under similar circumstances. So if another doctor would reasonably reach the same conclusion about your diagnosis, the actions of your doctor would not be malpractice. However, if another doctor with similar training and experience reaches a different conclusion, your doctor may be liable.

Consequences of a Misdiagnosis

A missed cancer diagnosis can often alter your life because you may not receive the appropriate treatment you need until it is too late. On the other hand, if you have a misdiagnosis you may undergo unnecessary treatments. Regrettably, if you have cancer and your doctor did not order the necessary tests based on your symptoms, by the time you are correctly diagnosed, your cancer may have progressed to other parts of your body. In these cases, we may be able to obtain damages for the following:

• Medical expenses caused by the misdiagnosis

• Lost wages

• Full or partial disability

• Pain and suffering

• Decreased quality of life

• Wrongful death

Contact an Orland Park Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you have been misdiagnosed and your health has worsened you need a tenacious Cook County medical malpractice attorney. At Schwartz Injury Law we will review your case and fight for the compensation that you are entitled to. Call 708-888-2160 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5873736/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2788285

https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/23/9/727