Medical Malpractice Lawyer and Legal Advice on Misdiagnosis of Cancer

The patient has a right to expect proper medical treatment and the right to trust that the medical professional has the expertise, ethical conduct, compassion and qualifications to make correct diagnosis without delay. Irrespective of whether on purpose, because of the lack of experience or confusion about the condition because of similarities with other conditions, if the mistake or lack of diagnosis leads to personal injury in which the patient suffers damages, the patient should contact a medical malpractice lawyer and legal advice should be obtained.

Circumstances, however, may not always support correct medical decision making. The doctor, because of long hours of work or personal circumstances, can make a judgment error. There are instances where the medical professional outright doesn’t follow correct procedure in diagnosing a patient. One such example is cancer.

Cancer is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late to ensure adequate treatment. Though in many instances, such late diagnosis isn’t the result of medical negligence, it is still advisable to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer and legal advice should be sought regarding possible steps to be taken in seeking financial compensation for damages suffered.

An error in diagnosis can lead to unnecessary pain and can furthermore intensify an existing medical condition. It can also lead to further medical conditions. Errors include the misdiagnosis of the illness, inadequate treatment of the condition, inadequate treatment of related conditions, and incorrect actions which worsen the particular condition. The doctor may also fail to administer the treatment in time, not record it appropriately, interpret the documentation incorrectly, and not request the necessary tests to confirm assessments made, administer the wrong medicine or incorrect dosage for medication, incorrectly use medical equipment and fail to monitor the condition.

Any such errors can lead to extra suffering for the patient and their family and it may only become apparent upon the patient’s death or days before the patient dies that the medical professional has treated the symptoms rather than the condition. This may be the case where a patient eventually dies of mouth cancer without any treatment for such because the medical professional treated repeated ear infections, malnutrition, and osteoporosis, vitamin deficiencies and mouth ulcers, without seeking a deeper cause for the condition. Mouth or oral cancer is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers and patients often receive the correct treatment only when too late.

In such an instance, early detection and correct procedures may have led to a better outcome or at least reduce suffering for the patient and their family. Although seeking legal advice and assistance from a medical malpractice lawyer in getting financial compensation for damages caused will not return the patient’s health or even provide any comfort for the family, it may still be needed because the patient was the breadwinner and caretaker of the family. If the patient is still alive, the financial compensation can help to pay for further treatments and to cover the financial losses sustained because of the incorrect treatments and thus inability to work or take care of the family.

It is not always possible to prove wrongdoing on the part of the medical professional and misdiagnosis is especially tricky since many conditions can manifest in similar ways. However, the patient has the right to fair, professional and correct medical treatment.

If you or your loved one has suffered because of misdiagnosis, contact Adele van der Walt Incorporated as experienced medical malpractice lawyer and benefit from legal advice you can trust.