Cancer is devastating, especially if it is not detected in its early stages. When a doctor misdiagnoses someone who has cancer, the treatments that the individual receives will not be for the correct illness. The cancer could continue to grow and spread within the body, causing considerable harm or death.
When you or a loved one has experienced the harmful effects of a misdiagnosis, you can talk to a Houston cancer misdiagnosis lawyer to discuss your legal options. Our seasoned failure-to-diagnose attorneys have experience holding medical professionals accountable for their negligence and pursuing compensation for the damages of misdiagnosis.
Types of Cancer that Are Commonly Misdiagnosed
These are the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers and the diseases or conditions they are often mistaken for:
- Lymphoma, misdiagnosed as allergies
- Breast cancer, confused with fibrocystic breasts
- Lung cancer, may appear to be asthma or pneumonia
- Ovarian cancer, misdiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome or a UTI
- Pancreatic cancer, confused with gallbladder diseases or peptic ulcers
No matter how similar the cancer is to another type of illness, it is a doctor’s job to diagnose it correctly. A cancer misdiagnosis lawyer in Houston may be able to determine if the doctor was negligent and could be held liable for damages.
Possible Causes of Cancer Misdiagnosis
Some cancer misdiagnoses are caught quickly and corrected without causing much harm to the patient. However, some misdiagnoses are caused because the doctor or another medical professional was negligent.
For example, a general doctor may see a symptom that could be indicative of cancer and fail to refer the patient to a specialist. Similarly, a doctor may fail to order diagnostic tests to determine the cause of specific symptoms. If the test was ordered and completed correctly, there is a chance that a doctor may fail to follow up on the results of the test.
Misdiagnosis can also result from negligence in the laboratory. Lab samples could be contaminated, or the test could have been performed incorrectly. Our Houston lawyers know of other possible causes of cancer misdiagnosis, such as doctors who rush through appointments with their patients, medical professionals who miscommunicate with one another, and doctors who fail to review the patient’s medical history, which may have indicated a risk for cancer.
How an Attorney Could Help in a Cancer Misdiagnosis Case
A Houston cancer misdiagnosis attorney could help with the complex issues in medical malpractice cases. However, they may need to prove an official doctor-patient relationship.
After this is established, they need to show evidence that the doctor was negligent in caring for the patient, causing a cancer misdiagnosis, which resulted in harm. A lawyer must build a strong case by gathering critical medical documents and getting expert testimonies from other doctors.
A medical malpractice attorney may be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent doctor and be an advocate in court. The liable doctor’s insurance company and lawyers will fight against the claim aggressively, so it is necessary to have an experienced lawyer on hand to stand firm against the opposition. Our legal team will fight to protect our client’s right to receive compensation for damages.
Discuss Your Cancer Misdiagnosis With a Houston Attorney
You can gain a sense of justice by holding a medical professional financially accountable for misdiagnosing your illness. Allow The Law Firm of Kinard, Garcia, and Saldaña to help you pursue compensation for the wrongs done to you.
Any type of medical malpractice can lead to complex legal issues. Trust a Houston cancer misdiagnosis lawyer to guide you through your lawsuit from start to finish. Contact our dedicated personal injury attorneys for a free consultation today.