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Misdiagnosis of Cancer

Many times, misdiagnosis occurs because of physician error or failure of physicians to listen and carefully consider the patient's descriptions of their symptoms and complaints and then take the necessary steps to determine the cause of those complaints. Although simple tests such as x-rays and biopsies could lead to proper diagnosis, doctors do not always take the time to investigate the cause of a patient's complaints to make a proper diagnosis.

UNDETECTED CANCER OR CANCER MISDIAGNOSED AS A LESS-SERIOUS CONDITION

Why is cancer sometimes undetected or misdiagnosed? A doctor may fail to order a necessary test or fail to refer the patient to a specialist. Also, a medical professional may misread a patient's test results. Doctors may also mistake and misdiagnose less serious conditions such as cysts and chronic fatigue syndrome as cancer.

What effect does undetected cancer, misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis of cancer have on a patient? Delays in detecting and treating cancer have deadly consequences. Because early detection and treatment are extremely important in fighting cancer, any delays in diagnosing the disease, ordering necessary medical tests, or administering proper treatment gives the devastating condition time to spread throughout the body. Unfortunately, cancer is too often misdiagnosed or undetected until it has reached such an advanced stage that the patient's chances for recovery are slim. Delays in diagnosing cancer can often mean the difference between life and death for the patient.

"FAILURE TO RESCUE" MOST COMMON

A study of Patient Safety Incidents (PSIs) by HealthGrades found that "Failure to Rescue", meaning failure to diagnose and treat in time, was the most common cause of a patient safety incident, with a rate of 155 per 1,000 hospitalized patients.

It is important that negligent healthcare providers be held accountable for cancer misdiagnosis. The injuries and damages of victims of cancer misdiagnosis can be severe, even devastating, and they may be able to receive financial compensation from their physician, hospital, and other health-care professionals. Failing to diagnose cancer in a timely manner may constitute medical malpractice or medical negligence and qualify the patient for compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.

COMMON CAUSES OF CANCER MISDIAGNOSIS

There are many different forms of misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose cancer. Circumstances that qualify as failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis of cancer include:

• Malignant diagnosed benign: Diagnosing a cancerous (malignant) lesion, tumor, or mass as benign (non-cancerous)
• Inadequate testing: Failure to order the appropriate and sufficient tests when patient's risk factors and/or symptoms indicate a higher potential for cancer
• Failure To Biopsy or Improper Biopsy Procedure: Cancerous tissue that is not properly biopsied leading to inaccurate diagnosis; missing a cancerous lesion in the biopsy procedure
• Improperly read or interpreted test results: Test results that are not properly read or interpreted can lead to failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis
• Failure to Follow Up: Inadequate physician follow up when suspicion of cancer is medically reasonable
• Lack of Responsiveness: Inadequate response to a patient's concerns and physical descriptions
• Failure to Refer: A failure to provide a referral to a specialist to confirm potential cancer diagnosis
• Benign Diagnosed Malignant: Identifying a non-cancerous (or benign) tumor as malignant (cancerous)
• Improper Classification: Improperly grading a cancer in terms of severity

If you think you may be the victim of failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis of cancer, call the experienced medical malpractice professionals at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys for a FREE consultation with no obligation. For more information, you can also download our FREE book "The Truth About Medical Malpractice" right here on this website.

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