Maryland Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney
A failure on the part of a medical professional to accurately and timely diagnose a potentially deadly disease such as cancer can result in truly devastating outcomes for impacted patients and their families. Sadly, this precise scenario occurs in an alarming number of cases each year. When it does, a Maryland cancer misdiagnosis lawyer stands ready to provide the assistance you need.
The Dangers of Misdiagnosis
When the existence of cancer is either missed or improperly attributed to another condition, patients can suffer life-altering consequences. Effective and appropriate treatments which could put cancer into remission or considerably extend life may be irreparably delayed or perhaps never undertaken at all. Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can be extra devastating for types of cancer that have very low fatality rates if detected and treated early, like skin cancer.
Circumstances such as these represent a gross betrayal of the trust we all must inevitably place in the doctors, diagnosticians, and other medical personnel.
It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of misdiagnosis, particularly when it comes to cancer. Patients who experience this type of physician negligence may be subjected to rapid progression of what may have otherwise been a controllable spread of the disease. This can lead to premature, even unnecessary death.
Furthermore, the wrongful use of powerful, often debilitating treatment methods to address an improperly diagnosed illness can produce unspeakable misery and physical pain.
Why and How Cancer Misdiagnosis in Maryland Occurs
Determination that a particular chronic or life-threatening condition exists tends to happen as a result of a series of medical testing protocols that may include general physical examinations, analysis of a patient’s medical history and/or review of imaging studies such as MRIs or X-rays.
Unfortunately, in certain instances, deadly diseases including cancer are sometimes missed entirely or mistaken for other health issues during this phase. Common reasons for this include:
- Misinterpretation of lab results
- Failure to comprehend patient’s medical history or specific complaints
- Lack of appropriate follow-up testing
- Dismissal or minimization of patient concerns
- Failure to order necessary initial testing
Though understaffed medical facilities, time pressures, and an overall lack of clear communication among treating physicians are often blamed for instances of misdiagnosis, there is never an acceptable excuse for a medical professional’s failure to adhere to the applicable standard of care.
Compensation for Victims of Misdiagnosis
Though every medical misdiagnosis is a serious event worthy of further examination, for cancer patients, the situation can be especially dire. If cancer is found at a relatively early stage, rates of survival for many can be surprisingly high. Unfortunately, however, when an accurate diagnosis of cancer does not occur until a late stage, if at all, the spread of the disease can prove impossible to stop.
As a result, the compensation victims of cancer misdiagnosis in Maryland may be able to recover is often substantial, and it may encompass payment for:
- Medical bills (past, present and future)
- Pain, physical suffering and emotional trauma
- Lost wages and/or reduced earning capacity
- Lost familial and/or marital relationships
- Burial costs
- Dependents’ loss of financial support
Consult a Maryland Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
Our lawyers know that every instance of medical misdiagnosis is unique, and we stand prepared to delve into the specific details of your case. To learn more about how we can help you fight for accountability and justice, contact our firm today.
