Many people trust the expertise of their doctor, but when you find out your doctor misdiagnosed your medical condition or did not accurately diagnose it in a timely manner, it can have a devastating impact on your physical and mental well-being. If you have been a victim of medical malpractice Pittsburgh PA, you may be entitled to receive compensation.
Physician Negligence and Cancer Misdiagnosis
A physician’s actions are considered negligent if he fails to provide the reasonable standard of medical care that other competent doctors would have provided under similar circumstances. The physician’s negligence must have also caused injury or harm to the patient. There are several actions a doctor msy hsve taken or failed to take which could have resulted in a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer.
It’s possible for a doctor to misdiagnosis cancer if he didn’t perform a thorough physical examination or failed to properly assess the patient’s symptoms and risk of getting cancer. The patient’s diagnosis may not have been communicated in a timely manner if the physician misinterpreted the lab test results, didn’t recommend the patient undergo cancer screenings or failed to submit the patient’s medical records to a specialist for a more in-depth evaluation. If you believe your physician didn’t follow standard protocols while you were under his care, speak with an experienced medical malpractice Pittsburgh PA attorney regarding your concerns.
Consequences of a Cancer Misdiagnosis
When cancer isn’t accurately diagnosed and treated, the patient’s condition could become significantly worse. If the cancer has progressed over time, the patient may be required to undergo medical procedures that are more invasive and could cause additional long-term health complications. The type of harm inflicted on a patient when cancer is delayed or misdiagnosed includes:
- Cancer could spread to other parts of the body
- Undergoing aggressive treatment such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy
- Chronic or severe pain
- Amputation or removal of body parts
- Permanent disability
- Increased likelihood of the condition being fatal
Medical Malpractice Claim
Receiving the wrong diagnosis or a delayed diagnosis can lead to serious health problems that may affect you for the rest of your life. Undergoing medical treatment for several months or years, dealing with expensive medical bills, and losing wages due to the inability to work are some of the issues patients have to deal with when they are victims of medical malpractice. Contact a medical malpractice Pittsburgh PA lawyer for a case evaluation and find out if you have a valid claim against your doctor or healthcare provider.
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