Laguna Hills Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer

Not only does diagnosis and treatment impact almost every aspect of a cancer patient’s life, but it also greatly affects the lives of the cancer patient’s families, friends, and loved ones.

It is typically doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other healthcare providers and facilities that are responsible for misdiagnosing cancer or treating it improperly. An experienced Laguna Hills cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help ascertain whether it is proper for defendants to sue in a medical malpractice case.

Cancer Classification

Cancer refers to an abnormal, rapid multiplication of cells which can occur anywhere in the body. Depending on the type of cancer and stage of development, the cancer may be treatable. In the worst cases, typically where there is a delayed onset of treatment, cancer can lead to a patient’s untimely death.

Many cancers cannot be traced to any specific cause other than heredity. Scientific evidence shows that there is a genetic predisposition to cancer, and therefore, the disease can be passed onto children and siblings. Two common exceptions to this general rule are lung cancer, which can be brought on by smoking, and skin cancer, which can be brought on by excessive sun exposure.

Virtually every medical study agrees that the key to beating cancer is early diagnosis and treatment. Over recent decades, many advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have been developed, and diagnostic testing is able to detect problems earlier than ever before.

Why is Late Diagnosis Dangerous?

Unfortunately, however, cancer is sometimes not diagnosed until too late, and treatment at that point becomes more difficult if not impossible. Late diagnosis can jeopardize a cancer patient’s chances of long-term survival. Further, if an individual believes they have been misdiagnosed, they should not hesitate in contacting a cancer misdiagnosis attorney in Laguna Hills as soon as possible.

Basis for Cancer Malpractice

Once cancer has been diagnosed, it can then be immediately and properly treated. Therefore, the basis for a medical malpractice claim in this context is that the cancer should have been diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage, or that improper treatment decisions were made after the diagnosis.

A doctor or other healthcare provider’s mere failure to follow-up after a questionable diagnostic test, however, is not typically sufficient to prove medical malpractice. Rather, the patient must prove that an earlier cancer diagnosis would have led to a significantly different and improved outcome or lifestyle.

Trained medical professionals are responsible for taking the proper steps to detect cancer, diagnose the condition, and properly treat the cancer. When healthcare professionals fail to do this, they should be held accountable for their negligent actions or inactions. At this stage, an individual should contact a Laguna Hills cancer misdiagnosis attorney to begin crafting a case to help maximize any potential damages.

What Are Some Types of Cancer Malpractice?

In the cancer misdiagnosis setting, the most common types of medical negligence include failing to perform the correct test to diagnose the cancer and incorrectly diagnosing the patient’s condition, such as when a patient who actually has cancer is incorrectly diagnosed with some other disease. A Laguna Hills cancer misdiagnosis attorney can help an individual determine if they have a basis for a cancer misdiagnosis case.

Another all-too-common type of medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider incorrectly reads or misinterprets diagnostic imaging studies, such as MRI’s, x-rays, Pap smears, and mammograms.

Consult with a Laguna Hills Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer and you suspect medical negligence on the part of a healthcare provider or facility, an experienced Laguna Hills cancer misdiagnosis attorney is ready and willing to assist you with your case. Call us to learn more.