Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening reality for many individuals. However, the sooner you receive your cancer diagnosis, the better chance you have of successful treatment. When doctors and other health care providers make mistakes that result in cancer misdiagnosis, it can cost a patient their life.
Since 2007, our cancer misdiagnosis attorneys at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers have been helping clients seek compensation for damages caused by medical malpractice. Our lawyers have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and have recovered millions for injured clients throughout Florida.
Contact our law firm or call (305) 937-0191 for a free consultation with one of our experienced Miami medical malpractice lawyers. We understand that you are going through a challenging experience. Our legal team is here to help you by handling all matters related to your medical malpractice case.
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How Can Our Miami Medical Malpractice Lawyers Help You With an Injury Claim?
Medical errors and medically negligent conduct can give injured patients a cause of action against their medical provider. However, it could be difficult to prove that a medical provider caused your injuries. You will ultimately need testimony from a medical expert.
Our Miami medical malpractice attorneys have the resources and relationships to hire leading medical experts to work on your case.
When you hire our Miami personal injury lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, you can expect us to:
- Analyze your case and provide an honest assessment
- Investigate your claim to determine what happened and identify the parties responsible for your cancer misdiagnosis
- Work with medical experts to determine the standards of care for your doctors
- Calculate the value of your damages and fight to get you the maximum compensation available for your case
- Prepare and file a medical malpractice lawsuit, if necessary
Medical professionals should be held financially accountable for the damages their negligence causes. Contact our law office to schedule a free case review with a cancer misdiagnosis attorney in Miami, Florida.
How Often Do Healthcare Providers Misdiagnose Cancer?
Errors in diagnosing medical conditions are a serious health threat in the United States. Research indicates that more than twelve million people are victims of misdiagnosis each year. Unfortunately, cancer is one of the common types of medical misdiagnosis.
One study found that cancer misdiagnosis was among the three types of diagnostic errors that resulted in serious harm. Almost 38% of the diagnostic errors that lead to severe injuries, permanent disability, or death were related to cancer.
Doctors can misdiagnose any type of cancer. Common cancers that doctors miss:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Skin cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Colorectal cancer
When doctors diagnose cancer in the early stage of the disease, the patient can begin receiving cancer treatments immediately. If a patient fails to receive timely cancer treatments, their chance of survival may decrease. Medical negligence and errors related to cancer diagnoses is a common cause of medical malpractice claims.
What Are the Consequences of Cancer Misdiagnosis?
The initial consequence of misdiagnosing cancer may not be evident. Cancer may go undiagnosed for months or years until the person begins to experience increasing or severe symptoms. By that time, the person may lose a limb or organ because the cancer is too advanced for chemotherapy or radiation.
On the other hand, an incorrect diagnosis of cancer could result in unnecessary medical treatments. A patient could receive cancer treatments when there is no need for these treatments.
As with other types of medical malpractice, human error and negligent acts are the most common causes of cancer misdiagnosis. In some cases, intentional wrongdoing may be the cause of a cancer misdiagnosis.
Common causes of cancer misdiagnosis in Miami-Dade County include:
- Ordering the incorrect diagnostic tests or failing to order diagnostic tests
- Failing to refer patients to specialists in a timely manner
- Identifying the wrong type of cancer
- Incorrectly collecting samples for tests
- Miscommunication between healthcare professionals
- Failing to order tests because a person does not have medical insurance
- Incorrectly interpreting diagnostic and lab results
Unfortunately, it could be difficult to determine why a doctor failed to diagnose cancer. However, your medical records are vital pieces of evidence of your claim. Medical experts can review the records to identify breaches in the standard of care.
Proving medical malpractice for cancer misdiagnosis requires that you have evidence showing:
- A doctor-patient relationship between you and your physician
- The standard of care in your situation
- Your doctor breached the duty of care
- The breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of your injury
- You sustained damages
Once you prove the elements of a medical malpractice claim, you can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages. In addition, you may also be entitled to punitive damages in some cases.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Miami Medical Malpractice Law Firm
If you believe that your medical provider made a mistake diagnosing cancer, contact our office for a free consultation. Our Miami personal injury attorneys are ready to discuss your case and provide answers to your questions about medical malpractice claims.