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My Doctor Misdiagnosed My Cancer

Feb 14, 2022

In 2020, there were more than 1.8 million diagnoses of cancer in the United States. Doctors diagnose cancer by looking for abnormal cells or growths on scans or biopsies of tissue. 

However, some patients are misdiagnosed and not given the care they need. If you feel like your doctor made a mistake in your diagnosis, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against them. 

At the Doctor Lawyer Firm, we specialize in representing victims of medical malpractice, including cancer misdiagnosis. We encourage you to call us right away if you were incorrectly diagnosed with cancer. Our misdiagnosis lawyer Jacksonville team will work hard to see that you get maximum compensation for your pain and suffering. In the meantime, we invite you to keep reading to learn more about cancer misdiagnosis.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is when a doctor misdiagnoses you, doesn’t give you appropriate care or does something else that causes harm to their patient. If the doctor’s mistake caused you injury, then it could be medical malpractice.

What Is Cancer Misdiagnosis?

A cancer misdiagnosis is a very serious issue that has the potential to cause severe damage, even death. There are many reasons why a doctor might misdiagnose a patient’s illness as cancer when it’s really something else. Doctors don’t always have the necessary training or expertise to diagnose every illness. 

And if they make a mistake, they can cause irreversible damage to an individual’s health and well-being. When doctors don’t know what’s wrong with a patient, they might diagnose them with cancer without knowing for sure if it is. 

They might make the diagnosis based on the symptoms the patient has or because there are no other obvious causes of their illness. This can be very dangerous because treatments for cancer are strong. A doctor may prescribe chemotherapy, which can cause permanent damage to your organs and your immune system. 

Treatment for cancer can also be expensive, leaving some patients unable to pay for treatment or even basic necessities like food and shelter.

A misdiagnosis can be detrimental to the patient’s health. The main concerns are that when a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, they may not offer the appropriate treatment for the patient’s condition. This means the patient could continue living with an illness that could have been treated if it had been identified correctly and in time. 

The other major concern is that when a doctor misdiagnoses cancer and then offers the wrong treatment, there is a higher chance for complications and side effects to arise. These health issues can lead to irreversible damage and even death.

What Are Common Causes of Cancer Misdiagnosis?

There are many reasons why doctors misdiagnose cancer patients. The most common reasons include:

  • Not using the right equipment
  • Not ordering the right tests
  • Not reading the scans correctly
  • Not considering all possible diagnoses
  • Not considering family history of cancer
  • Overlooking other medical conditions

Your misdiagnosis lawyer Jacksonville firm will research and compile all of the essential evidence related to your cancer misdiagnosis to ensure that you get comprehensive legal representation.

Why Should You Hire a Lawyer for Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is a serious issue in the health care industry. From misdiagnoses to surgical errors , these mistakes can have devastating consequences on the patient and their family. You need someone who knows how to navigate this murky territory and get you the compensation you deserve. 

Medical malpractice attorneys will help you collect your medical records, identify potential issues with your care, and hold negligent parties accountable. You should find an attorney who cares for victims of medical malpractice as their specialty—a law firm that has experience handling cases similar to yours. This ensures that you’ll receive specialized legal counsel for your cancer misdiagnosis.

Preventing Cancer Misdiagnoses

Misdiagnosis can be prevented if doctors are trained to better identify signs of cancer. They need to be aware of what is potentially a sign of cancer and have the knowledge to treat it as such. There are many forms of cancer, and each form has different symptoms. It is crucial that doctors know these differences so they don’t mistake a benign tumor for a malignant one. 

In addition, doctors should be trained on how to diagnose patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer. Doctors need to understand the patient’s history and look out for any signs that could indicate a relapse or metastasis.

Were you wrongly diagnosed with cancer? You could be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. At the Doctor Lawyer Firm, our legal team has extensive experience that you need in a misdiagnosis case. Doctor Sowell and Doctor Chakour have extensive backgrounds in the legal field and the medical field. So be sure to contact us right away if you’re the victim of a cancer misdiagnosis, and we will fight to get you maximum compensation.

How A Doctor’s Mistake Can Lead To A Later Stage Of Cancer?

wrong cancer lawyer

Did you know that a doctor’s mistake can lead to a later stage of cancer? It happens more than you may think. Even though cancer research has come a long way, there are still many mysteries surrounding the disease. It’s also likely that we haven’t even discovered all of the ways it can manifest itself. 


That’s why it’s so important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. In this article, you’ll learn about the risks of developing the later stages of cancer and what can lead to them.


If this happened to you because of a doctor’s mistake, you should consider contacting our wrong diagnosis lawyers here at the Doctor Lawyer Firm. We will fight for your rights and strive to make you whole again.

What Are Later Stages of Cancer?

The later stages of cancer are when the disease has spread from its original location to other parts of the body. It will have grown and become more aggressive. The symptoms may vary depending on the health history and type of cancer but usually include:

  • Pain
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Coughing up blood


It’s imperative that your doctor provides you with thorough medical care to ensure that there are no signs of cancer. But before we move on to what mistakes can lead to later stages of cancer, let’s take a moment to discuss some of the natural causes of cancer.

What Mistakes Can Lead to Later Stages of Cancer?

When we think of medical mistakes, we typically think of something that went wrong during a surgical procedure or a diagnostic test. 


But there’s another type of mistake that can have devastating consequences for patients and their families: medical errors of omission. These are errors that are rarely spoken about but can lead to long-term consequences for patients. 


These types of errors are particularly concerning because they can occur at any stage in a patient’s medical care, well before they become symptomatic.


For instance, a failure to catch a disease in its early stages may lead to a later stage of the same disease. Or, a missed opportunity to prevent a surgical complication may result in a more serious problem. And a failure to recognize or address a medical problem in its early stages can lead to a more serious medical condition down the road.


Whether it’s your doctor, nurse, or another member of the medical team, it’s important that they understand the types of medical errors that can occur and how they can affect patients.

Medical Error of Omission

In medicine, an error of omission is a medical mistake that results from a failure to diagnose a condition or perform a recommended course of action.


The concept is pretty simple: if a doctor does not order tests that are required for a specific patient, then that patient may end up with a life-threatening condition for which the doctor is not equipped to treat.


For example, a patient may present with a headache, and the doctor may fail to order an MRI or CT scan to rule out a brain tumor. In this case, the doctor has omitted a vital part of the diagnostic process.

Failure to Diagnose

There are many instances in which a doctor may fail to order a test even though it’s required for a specific diagnosis.


For instance, a patient presents with only a vague symptom that could indicate a number of conditions. If the doctor does not perform a detailed physical examination, it’s possible that the doctor could miss a life-threatening condition.


Another example is when a doctor fails to order a test after diagnosing a patient with a specific condition. If the doctor does not check for complications that may have developed during the course of the disease, then those complications could cause additional harm and prolong the patient’s stay in the hospital.

Medical Malpractice

This is a broad term that refers to any medical mistake that results in injury or death.


The American Medical Association (AMA) defines malpractice as “the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a health care professional.”


The AMA also states that malpractice consists of medical error and omission. In other words, a physician can commit malpractice by simply making a mistake while in the examination room with a patient and by omitting to do something necessary for the patient’s health.


The distinction is important because the first type of mistake can happen without maliciousness on the doctor’s part. A physician may not be aware of certain facts (for example, the location of a patient’s cervix) that can affect a diagnosis or treatment.


In contrast, the second type of mistake is usually a result of negligence. A physician may fail to do something that is necessary for the patient’s care, such as not ordering an X-ray because the physician does not believe that the patient needs it.

Late Diagnosis
This is when a patient presents with symptoms that suggest a certain condition, but the doctor is not able to make the diagnosis until weeks or months later.

For example, a patient comes to the doctor with a rash and discharge from the nose and ears. The physician may notice a ring around the collarbone and diagnose an infection, but it may take a few more visits to figure out that the patient has cancer.


In this case, the patient has presented with symptoms that suggest a certain condition, but the doctor is not able to make the diagnosis until weeks or months later.


It’s at this time that you might want to consider speaking with wrong diagnosis lawyers to get the compensation you deserve.

 

Understanding the Importance of a Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney

cancer misdiagnosis attorney

You’d think that as an advanced and developed medical field, cancer would be easy to diagnose. However, that’s not always the case. Each year, there are more than a million people who get a diagnosis of cancer when they aren’t actually sick. 


That is because many of these instances of misdiagnosed cancer are often life-threatening. These patients often don’t know where to go next or what rights they have as a result of their diagnosis. A lawyer specializing in misdiagnosis can help you understand your situation and take the right steps moving forward. 


You see, while it might feel like there are no happy endings in these situations, there certainly can be. The good news is that with the right team behind you and your best interests at heart, you can get the peace of mind and financial security you deserve after such a difficult ordeal. 


Here is how a lawyer specializing in this type of case can help you. And if you need a cancer misdiagnosis attorney in the meantime, be sure to contact The Doctor Lawyer Firm. Our expert team physician-attorney team has the experience you need to increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.


Learn About the Diagnosis Mistakes
One of the first things you should do when you suspect you’ve been misdiagnosed is learn about the most common mistakes. These include mistaking symptoms of other diseases for cancer, misinterpreting test results, and simply not having the right training or expertise when it comes to cancer diagnosis. 


Still, these issues don’t mean that the healthcare providers are acting unethically. They are often just going off of their medical knowledge, training, and experience. That’s why misdiagnoses happen so often and even in the best medical facilities. 


The first step in getting justice and closure is understanding the misdiagnosis mistake further. You’ll also feel less alone when you know that your misdiagnosis isn’t an uncommon issue. You can also learn how to advocate for yourself so that you aren’t misdiagnosed again.


Understand Financial Options
One of the first things you should do after you’ve been misdiagnosed is try to understand your financial options. In many cases, you might be able to get financial compensation for the misdiagnosis mistake. 


Most often, this is done through a medical malpractice lawsuit. When you sue a doctor or hospital for a misdiagnosis, you are saying that they were negligent in their care of you. This means they failed to use reasonable care while treating you and that their negligence led to damages. 


The damages in this type of lawsuit usually come in the form of financial compensation for related costs like lost wages, medical bills, or other expenses. However, it’s important to note that many states have statutes of limitations for misdiagnosis lawsuits that range from two years to 10 years.


For example, in Florida, you must file a lawsuit within two years of the misdiagnosis discovery. So it’s vital that you start the process as soon as possible so that you know all your legal rights and options moving forward.


Help You Hold the Right People Accountable

If the misdiagnosis was caused by someone in the medical profession, you might be able to hold them accountable in a lawsuit. This is especially important if the misdiagnosis resulted in significant side effects like pain, financial hardship, or a shortened life expectancy. 


In these cases, it’s crucial that you take legal action against the person or institution responsible. Medical malpractice lawsuits are tricky, though. You need an experienced team, such as a good cancer misdiagnosis attorney, to help you navigate the legal process. 


Help you Find a Good Medical Monitoring Program
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and believe you were misdiagnosed, it’s a good idea to seek out a medical monitoring program. This is a program that will monitor your health and provide information on your condition as it progresses. 


A medical monitoring program is different from a lawsuit in that it doesn’t require you to sue anyone. Instead, it’s a medical research program that simply tracks your progress and provides updates to medical professionals about your condition. 


This means that if you are ever misdiagnosed again, the doctors will know about it. These programs vary from state to state and may require you to pay a fee. However, this is often a small price to pay for the added security and peace of mind that comes from having your condition tracked.


Finding a Lawyer Who Specializes in Misdiagnosis Cases

No matter what you do for a living, having a lawyer on your side is crucial. When dealing with a misdiagnosis, it’s even more important to find a lawyer who specializes in these types of cases. These lawyers can provide you with the best advice and guidance as you navigate the legal process. 


They can also provide you with helpful information on what to expect moving forward. It’s important to keep in mind that there are two different kinds of lawyers you can hire. You can hire a contingency lawyer, or you can hire an hourly lawyer. 


When it comes to misdiagnosis cases, the best type of lawyer to hire is an hourly lawyer. This means that they’ll charge you an hourly rate to handle your case. This is beneficial because it means that your lawyer will be motivated to help you win your case. 


Contingency lawyers, on the other hand, only receive payment if you win your case. However, if you lose your case, you don’t owe them anything.


Finding the Right Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, your first thoughts are probably focused on how to get the best treatment and manage the disease as effectively as possible. It can be difficult to know where to seek further advice if you feel like you’re not getting the answers you need—or if you suspect that your diagnosis isn’t correct. 


Thankfully, there are lawyers who specialize in helping people in this situation. A cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help you get the answers and compensation that you deserve after a diagnostic error. 


Read on for more information about what these lawyers do and how they can help when your cancer misdiagnosis case is complicated by factors such as age, socioeconomic status, or another illness.

What Is a Cancer Misdiagnosis?

cancer misdiagnosis lawyer

A cancer misdiagnosis is a situation where a patient is diagnosed with cancer but actually has a different, less serious condition. Unfortunately, this is a relatively common issue, and it can have serious repercussions for the patient if left undiagnosed. This kind of misdiagnosis can be extremely stressful and lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. 


There are several reasons why this kind of misdiagnosis might occur. Doctors may misread a patient’s symptoms or rely on an outdated method of diagnosis. This can lead to a misdiagnosis because all cancers share the same initial symptoms, so doctors may jump to an incorrect conclusion if the symptoms aren’t obvious. 


Doctors may also misdiagnose cancer because a patient either fails to mention or doesn’t remember a previous condition that could explain their current symptoms.


What Is a Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer?

A cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help you navigate the difficult and confusing process of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice is when a health care provider fails to provide necessary care, diagnoses the wrong illness, or treats a condition incorrectly. This could include failing to order necessary tests or screenings, misinterpreting test results, or missing a diagnosis altogether. 


Medical malpractice can affect anyone, but it’s most common among patients who have either a complicated condition or have been in the hospital for a long time. When you suspect that your cancer misdiagnosis is due to a health care provider’s negligence, it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. 


That’s because there are strict time limits for filing a claim for medical malpractice. If your cancer misdiagnosis happened in the past, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to pursue a legal claim, even if it has had a serious impact on your life. That’s why you should contact a cancer misdiagnosis lawyer as soon as you suspect that your diagnosis is incorrect.


Why Are There So Many Cancer Misdiagnoses?

As discussed above, there are many reasons why misdiagnoses happen. However, there are also a lot of reasons why doctors might err on the side of caution or misdiagnose a condition. This is particularly true with cancers, as they can be difficult to diagnose and have very similar symptoms. You can also never rule out the possibility of an honest mistake or oversight. 


Another issue that can lead to misdiagnosis is a patient’s reluctance to share certain details with their doctor. This is particularly true in situations where the patient feels shame or guilt about their symptoms. Doctors can also make misdiagnoses due to time constraints. They may have so many patients to see or tests to interpret that they simply don’t have enough time to be thorough in their evaluation.


When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Even if you’re positive that your cancer misdiagnosis is due to a doctor’s negligence, it can be difficult to know whether you should hire a lawyer. It’s important to keep in mind that every case is unique, and your results may vary significantly depending on the facts of your situation. However, there are a few common red flags that suggest you might benefit from hiring a cancer misdiagnosis lawyer:

  • You have a rare form of cancer, and you’re not getting the correct treatment.
  • You have been diagnosed with cancer, but the disease has spread beyond your initial site of diagnosis.
  • You have no second site of cancer growth that your doctors can treat or monitor.
  • You have been told that your cancer is incurable, but you feel that there is more that can be done to help you.
  • You have been diagnosed with a type of cancer that you feel is not consistent with your symptoms.
  • You have been diagnosed with a type of cancer that is more serious than your symptoms would suggest.


What to Look for in a Lawyer

Finding a good lawyer is an important part of any legal process. It can be challenging to determine which lawyer to hire, particularly when you have a limited number of options as a cancer misdiagnosis client. Here are a few things you can do to find the right lawyer for your misdiagnosis case:

  • Check to see if your state’s medical board has any disciplinary actions against attorneys who handle medical malpractice cases.
  • Find out which types of cancer misdiagnosis cases your potential lawyer has won in the past.
  • Make sure that your lawyer is accessible and responsive to your needs.
  • Make sure that your lawyer is willing to negotiate with your health care providers as part of your misdiagnosis case.


Call Your Misdiagnosis Lawyer Jacksonville Specialists Today

Doctor Sowell and Doctor Chakour are your trusted advocates for cancer misdiagnosis and medical malpractice lawsuits. Contact the Doctor Lawyer Firm and let us assist you with your claim. Call 1-833-MedMals or submit our contact form today.


Note* The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not decide whether to contact a lawyer based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.

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