How Does a Cancer Misdiagnosis Occur?

 Posted on July 30, 2024 in Medical Malpractice

Despite advances in cancer research and treatment, many doctors may still fail to notice important symptoms of cancer or misdiagnose cancer in their patients. This can have serious repercussions for the patient, especially when quick treatment of cancer is essential to a patient’s continued health. Many reasons may lead to a cancer misdiagnosis, and it is important to speak with a skilled Illinois cancer misdiagnosis lawyer if you have experienced this and wish to pursue a claim.

Common Causes of Cancer Misdiagnosis

Cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor makes incorrect conclusions about a patient’s symptoms and fails to diagnose cancer. Common causes of cancer misdiagnosis include:

• Diagnosing a patient with a different disease instead of cancer

• Failing to diagnose cancer in the early stages due to missing symptoms

• Diagnosing a patient with the wrong type of cancer, or diagnosing a patient with cancer when the patient does not have cancer

• Failure to diagnose cancer promptly, leading to delayed diagnosis

Patients who experience cancer misdiagnosis or complications getting a diagnosis for their cancer may suffer from extended illness, a lack of treatment, or even fatalities if their cancer progresses quickly.

Who Is Liable for a Cancer Misdiagnosis?

A few different parties may be liable for a cancer misdiagnosis, depending on the circumstances surrounding the misdiagnosis. Doctors and medical staff who miss or ignore symptoms may be found to be negligent if they do not manage a disease the way a reasonable practitioner of the same knowledge and experience would have. This means that they failed to uphold a reasonable standard of care that could be expected by a patient, making the medical staff liable for the damages a patient suffers as a result.

Examples of negligent behavior include:

• Failing to obtain an accurate medical history from the patient

• Ignoring a patient’s symptoms or medical complaints

• Failing to recognize cancer symptoms

• Ordering tests or labs that are incorrect or not applicable to the patient’s symptoms

• Misinterpreting test and lab work results

• Dismissing cancer in a patient due to a bias, such as the patient’s age

Your doctor, radiologist, nurses, or other medical staff may all play a part in a cancer misdiagnosis. As you pursue a medical malpractice claim, your lawyer will help investigate your situation and build a case for who is liable for your cancer misdiagnosis.

Contact a Chicago, IL Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney

Cancer misdiagnosis can be life-altering, and patients who have suffered from a misdiagnosis due to their medical staff’s negligence may be able to pursue a claim for compensation. A knowledgeable Chicago, IL cancer misdiagnosis lawyer is key to investigating your case and holding those responsible for your misdiagnosis accountable.

At Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC, we have a strong track record of success with medical malpractice and cancer misdiagnosis cases, and we will advocate for you during every step of the claim process. Call 312-236-6324 for a free consultation.