According to the American Cancer Society, over 1.6 million patients are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year. Cancer is a very aggressive condition that tends to spread quickly, making its survival largely dependent on early detection and effective treatment in hopes of stopping and reversing its spread. Unfortunately, far too many cancer deaths result from a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose the disease until it is too late. Because early detection can mean the difference between life and death, medical practitioners that do not properly diagnose cancer must be held to account, so these instances do not continue to occur. If you or a loved one has been impacted by a failure to diagnose cancer, you need experienced representation from a Chicago medical malpractice attorney to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Misdiagnoses and failures to diagnose occur with several common forms of cancer. These include:
- Lung Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
Often, the patient comes in with symptoms that may or may not be life threatening; such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, unusual weight loss, dizziness and many others.
Instead of ordering the proper tests to rule out a worst case scenario, the doctor treats the patient for a common illness like a cold or flu by writing up a prescription or two. Sadly, by the time the patient returns with worsening symptoms, the cancer has often advanced to the stage where it will be very difficult (if not impossible) to reverse. Had the doctor ordered a chest X-ray, CT scan, mammogram or other preventative test, the cancer could have been identified early and with a much higher probability of success in treating it.
Misdiagnoses can also occur because of a misinterpretation of the test results. For example, a test may come back showing a tumor, but the lab technician misreads the results and determines that the tumor is benign rather than cancerous. These types of errors put the patient on the wrong treatment path, sometimes making the situation worse before the true condition is finally discovered.
Errors in diagnoses can be deadly mistakes that are devastating for the patient and their family. When this happens, the assistance of an experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyer can be critical in holding the responsible parties accountable. For over two decades, Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C., has successfully represented clients that have suffered from a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose cancer in Chicago, Cook County and throughout the United States. Our legal team works closely with medical professionals to aggressively pursue the truth and secure full damages for our clients’ injuries. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medical practitioner’s negligence, contact our office today to schedule your free consultation.
For a free consultation, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. today at 312-553-4900 or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.
