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Lake Forest Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
Usually, you depend on your doctor to screen you for life-threatening diseases. When a medical professional fails to properly diagnose cancer or misdiagnoses it entirely, you may benefit from the aid of a Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis lawyer if you want to explore your options for seeking civil compensation. With the help of a dedicated medical malpractice attorney, you could determine whether you have a valid medical claim in your situation and react accordingly.
Effects of Misdiagnosis on Cancer
The impact of a missed or incorrect cancer diagnosis can be substantial. As cancer progresses, individuals may experience a higher risk of death and the need for a more aggressive course of treatment. In extreme cases, a failure to diagnose cancer can result in the disease becoming untreatable.
Misdiagnosis can occur with respect to many different types of cancer. Advances in technology have made several kinds of cancer detectable and more easily treated, but some common cancers which doctors still often fail to diagnose include:
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Throat cancer
An early diagnosis makes almost all forms of cancer more treatable and can result in a higher survival rate. It also typically means that treatment can be less rigorous but still effective. A Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could assess an individual situation and determine whether malpractice occurred in a legal sense.
Situations Leading to Potential Cancer Misdiagnosis
Doctors inherently owe a duty of care to anyone with whom they have a doctor-patient relationship. When doctors fail to act in accordance with this duty of care based on how other doctors would act in the same situation, they may have fulfilled the legal definition of malpractice.
For instance, if a patient complains of certain symptoms and has a family history of a specific form of cancer, a doctor may have the duty to order diagnostic tests to screen for that type of cancer. If the doctor delays ordering those tests or does not order the tests at all, and these actions result in a delayed diagnosis, delays in treatment, and a less favorable prognosis, that doctor could be liable to the patient for the costs and damages associated with that misdiagnosis.
Likewise, if the doctor orders tests but misreads their results, and accordingly fails to refer patients for appropriate further treatment, malpractice may have occurred. A skilled lawyer could provide significant assistance in identifying scenarios which may qualify as malpractice based on a cancer misdiagnosis.
Damages in Cancer Misdiagnosis Cases
There are limitations on the amounts and types of damages that a cancer misdiagnosis victim in Lake Forest can recoup under California law. Damages are generally categorized as special damages or general damages.
Special damages incorporate medical expenses, lost wages, and other quantifiable costs that result directly from the alleged malpractice. Conversely, general damages are less quantifiable injuries sustained as a result of medical malpractice that do not have an objective financial value, such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
The amount of general damages that injury victims can receive, however, is limited by the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). California Civil Code provides that general damages in medical malpractice cases are limited to $250,000, no matter how egregious the medical errors may be in a particular case. An accomplished Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could work tirelessly to help an injured victim recover damages.
Call a Lake Forest Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney for Advice
When cancer strikes, you may be overwhelmed and unsure where to turn first for advice. You may wonder if your doctor overlooked the signs of cancer, and if so, whether earlier detection would have made a difference in your treatment plan or prognosis. When you have questions like these about your cancer diagnosis, a Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis lawyer may be able to help.
An unexpected cancer diagnosis may lead to permanent impairments that have an immeasurable effect on your life. If the medical negligence of a healthcare professional led to your cancer misdiagnosis, you may have grounds for a malpractice claim. Call today to discuss your case and legal options.