Washington DC Cervical Cancer Delayed Diagnosis Lawyer

Cervical cancer generally is a slow forming cancer. If cervical cancer is identified early, before it has spread to other organs and tissue, it is highly treatable. Further, because of the effectiveness of diagnostic tests such as the Pap smear, precancerous cells or abnormal cells can be identified and treated leading to a higher potential for a positive outcome. However, when a doctor delays making a diagnosis, it can lead to cancerous cells developing or spreading.

Doctors and healthcare providers have a duty and obligation meet the professional standard of care which has been defined as “the degree of care and skill that a physician or surgeon of the same medical specialty would use under similar circumstances.” When a doctor fails to meet this standard, they can be held legally responsible for any resulting injuries or losses. In the case where a doctor makes a delayed cervical cancer diagnosis, this can mean the doctor will be held responsible for your medical costs and expenses, pain and suffering, and any other related loss.

If you have been diagnosed with cervical cancer because of a delayed diagnosis, consider contacting a Washington DC cervical cancer delayed diagnosis lawyer who can help determine if your diagnosis was caused by medical malpractice and neglect, and may be able to help you recover compensation to cover surgeries, treatments, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering.

Why Early Detection is Critical

It is critical to identify and treat cervical cancer in its earliest stages, ideally when the cells are considered precancerous or abnormal. Cervical cancer has been called the “silent killer” because symptoms typically do not appear until the cancer is in its later stages when it is harder to treat. The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer at stage 0 or IA is around ninety-three percent.

However, as cervical cancer progresses, the survival rate dramatically decreases.  Furthermore, not only are the survival rates dramatically better in the early stages, but the treatments are far more effective and less invasive in the early stages.

When to Contact a Lawyer

Just as a doctor should not delay in making a diagnosis, a woman impacted by a delayed diagnosis should not wait to contact a Washington DC cervical cancer diagnosis lawyer. Under Washington DC’s statute of limitations, a person has three years to file a medical malpractice claim. D.C. Code § 12-301. This time limit is important because if a lawsuit is filed after three years, the claim may be dismissed, leaving affected women to manage their pain and suffering.

Further, because medical malpractice litigation is so complex and there are numerous reporting and litigation requirements in a medical malpractice claim, it is important to contact a Washington DC cervical cancer delayed diagnosis lawyer as soon as possible.

Consult with a DC Cervical Cancer Delayed Diagnosis Attorney Today

Cervical cancer is often easily treated in its early stages, however, as the condition progresses the treatments become more invasive and less effective. Healthcare providers, therefore, should be diligent in assessing and diagnosis women with cervical cancer, preferably before cervical cancerous cells have fully developed.

However, if you or a loved one have suffered because of a delayed diagnosis, a Washington DC cervical cancer delayed diagnosis lawyer is prepared to help. An attorney would be intimately familiar with the complexities of a medical malpractice case and can provide you with individualized attention and support during the entire litigation process.