Commonly misdiagnosed cancer
Cancer misdiagnosis can be caused by several factors, ranging from medical negligence to a basic lack of cancer knowledge in the medical community. In some cases, cancer misdiagnosis is medically unavoidable despite the use of all appropriate diagnostic processes and procedures. In cases where a particular party is at fault, patients may be able to file a cancer misdiagnosis claim. Commonly misdiagnosed cancers include breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancer, among others. Data indicate that these cancers are often misdiagnosed because they are also among the most common types of cancer. Misdiagnosis of these cancers often occurs due to the similarity of cancer symptoms to the symptoms of other non-cancerous conditions.
Types of cancer misdiagnosis claims
Cancer misdiagnosis often involves incidents where a medical professional incorrectly diagnoses cancer, fails to diagnose cancer properly, or provides a delayed diagnosis. Each of these scenarios can result in the delay or absence of critical cancer treatment. Often, cancer misdiagnosis patients miss a crucial time frame during which cancer treatment is most effective. As a result, the patient’s prognosis and the outcome may be poorer than if the proper treatment were provided promptly.
1. Incorrect cancer diagnosis
Incorrect cancer diagnosis occurs when a cancer diagnosis is given to a patient without cancer or when a diagnosis for a different condition is given to a cancer patient. In both of these scenarios, the patient’s current cancer status is misinterpreted. In many cases, the patient misses a treatment window for cancer or undergoes unnecessary cancer treatment.
2. Faulty cancer screening
Diagnostic testing may provide false-positive or false-negative results. False-positive test results indicate cancer when the condition is not present. Likewise, false-negative results indicate the absence of cancer in cancer patients. Faulty cancer screening often occurs due to imperfections in the testing process.
For example, cancer screening may misidentify abnormal cells as cancerous when they are not. Imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerised tomography (CT) may fail to identify cancerous lesions that are too small for detection. Additionally, faulty cancer results may occur from negligence or incompetence of medical professionals who administer the tests.
3. Delayed diagnosis of cancer
Delayed cancer diagnosis occurs when the medical professional fails to recognise signs of cancer when they are first presented, and delayed cancer diagnosis results in delayed treatment, which can have fatal outcomes for patients. Due to the aggressive nature and rapid growth of some types of cancer, a delayed cancer diagnosis can ultimately lead to the patient’s unnecessary death.
4. Failure to diagnose cancer
In these cases, the treating medical professionals completely fail to identify and diagnose a patient’s cancer. The patient often does not discover the cancer until another doctor or specialist observes it. Patients may only receive a proper diagnosis in advanced stages due to the onset of severe symptoms. In severe cases, patient death may occur before a cancer diagnosis is made.
5. Medical negligence in cancer misdiagnosis
Cancer misdiagnosis is often the result of medical negligence on the part of the medical professionals and companies responsible for diagnosing and treating the patient. Medical negligence occurs when a treating medical professional acts carelessly or fails to provide a patient with adequate care and attention in a medical setting. Medical negligence is established by comparing the actions of the medical professional in question to those of another medical professional with similar qualifications, specialisation, and experience.
Cancer misdiagnosis may occur when a medical professional
- Fails to acknowledge, investigate, or identify specific symptoms associated with cancer
- Fails to administer appropriate cancer testing when medically indicated by symptoms or risk factors
- Improperly or inappropriately conducts cancer testing, such as a biopsy or MRI scan
- Fails to correctly read or interpret cancer test results provided by a testing laboratory
- Fails to acknowledge or investigate medical recommendations made by a testing laboratory
- Fails to refer a patient to a more qualified specialist in cases where the medical professional lacks the appropriate skills or expertise
- Treats a patient using procedures and processes that are not medically warranted by the patient’s symptoms and current state
- Fails to provide prompt and adequate follow-up care for treatment assessment
The claim process
1. Consult our medical negligence solicitor
You should speak to an experienced team of Medical Negligence Solicitors as soon as possible if you think you were not given adequate or appropriate medical care, resulting in you sustaining an injury or illness.
2. We obtain your medical records
After the consultation with your medical negligence solicitor, he/she will request access to your medical records and engage an independent medical expert to assess your records. The purpose of engaging an independent expert is to establish whether there was any negligence on the medical professional’s part.
3. The medical negligence litigation process
Where the independent medical expert is of the professional opinion that medical negligence did occur, upon your instructions, your solicitor will begin issuing legal proceedings in Court against the medical professional and/or hospital. Call us at 1800 844 104 (Free Phone) or email [email protected] to speak with our Medical Negligence team member.
Statute of Limitation
The legal time limit to make a medical negligence claim is two years from the date of injury or date of knowledge that the injury or illness resulted from medical negligence. For children/minors, the time limit expires two years after their 18th birthday. You can contact a solicitor to talk about your case and let you know about the statute of limitations applicable to your case.
