Delay in diagnosis of Colon Cancer
Jane was a much loved wife and mother who died as a result of a delayed diagnosis of bowel cancer and a lack of follow-up
Amputation
A diagnosis of cancer is devastating but if it could have been detected and treated earlier due to negligence, the effects can be life changing, should result in compensation and the clinicians held responsible. Our specialist team are here to help.
Jane was a much loved wife and mother who died as a result of a delayed diagnosis of bowel cancer and a lack of follow-up
In 2009, AX was teaching abroad when he discovered a lump on his testicle. Sensibly returning to the UK to have the lump checked out,
Negligence in a cancer diagnosis can occur when a healthcare provider fails to follow the appropriate standard of care in diagnosing cancer. Some examples of negligence in a cancer diagnosis include:
Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests: A healthcare provider may be negligent if they fail to order the appropriate diagnostic tests to determine whether a patient has cancer. For example, if a patient presents with symptoms of cancer, but the healthcare provider fails to order a biopsy or imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis, this could be considered negligence.
Misinterpretation of diagnostic tests: A healthcare provider may be negligent if they misinterpret the results of diagnostic tests, leading to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer. For example, if a radiologist misreads a mammogram or CT scan, resulting in a failure to detect cancer, this could be considered negligence.
Failure to refer a patient to a specialist: A healthcare provider may be negligent if they fail to refer a patient to a specialist for further evaluation or treatment. For example, if a primary care physician fails to refer a patient with suspected cancer to an oncologist, this could be considered negligence.
Failure to follow up on abnormal test results: A healthcare provider may be negligent if they fail to follow up on abnormal test results, leading to a delay in diagnosing cancer. For example, if a patient’s Pap smear shows abnormal cells, but the healthcare provider fails to follow up with further testing or a referral to a specialist, this could be considered negligence.
Yes, you can. If you believe you have been misdiagnosed with cancer, you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim. To do so, you would typically need to show that the healthcare provider who made the misdiagnosis was negligent, meaning they failed to provide the appropriate standard of care that a reasonable and competent healthcare provider would have provided under similar circumstances. Additionally, you would need to show that the misdiagnosis caused you harm, such as physical or emotional suffering, additional medical expenses, or lost wages.
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