Minnesota Misdiagnosis Cancer Lawyer
No patient wants to receive a cancer diagnosis. However, when they are suffering from the illness and they are not properly diagnosed, the impacts are devastating. Many different types of cancers respond very well to early treatment and that gives patients a higher chance of going into remission and eventually being cancer-free. A missed opportunity to receive that early treatment due to a misdiagnosis of cancer is often the difference between life and death.
Patients who have suffered harm as a result of a cancer misdiagnosis may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. A Minnesota cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help you through the process so you obtain the full and fair compensation you are entitled to.
How Common is Cancer Misdiagnosis?
A cancer misdiagnosis is so traumatic, people tend to think it does not occur very often. Sadly, that is not true. According to the Mayo Clinic, only 12 percent of patients who sought a second opinion had the diagnosis from their original physician confirmed. It was found that a shocking 21 percent of the remainder of patients received a cancer misdiagnosis and another 66 percent had their diagnosis revised. Considering that many people never seek a second opinion and do not take legal action, the number of cancer misdiagnoses is likely much higher.
What Types of Cancers are Commonly Misdiagnosed?
Any time a doctor is negligent and does not perform the proper tests or listen to the symptoms of the patient, it can result in a cancer misdiagnosis. The most common types of cancers that are misdiagnosed are as follows:
- Childhood thyroid cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Breast cancer
- Lymphoma
- Other types of uncommon cancers
Even when a patient is suffering from a rare type of cancer, or has a variety of symptoms, doctors are expected to provide the highest standard of care when diagnosing the condition. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for their carelessness.
Are There Different Types of Cancer Misdiagnosis?
Just as there are different types of cancer that are commonly misdiagnosed, there are also different types of cancer misdiagnosis. These include:
- Diagnosing the wrong type of cancer: Certain types of cancers, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, present very similar symptoms. Doctors must know how to distinguish one type of cancer from another to prevent further harm to their patients.
- Failing to realize a patient has cancer: Cancers that go undiagnosed will progress very rapidly. In the most tragic of cases, they can progress to the extent where they will no longer respond to even the most aggressive treatment.
- Diagnosing cancer when none exists: Wrongly diagnosing that a patient has cancer when they do not can result in unnecessary surgeries, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Patients will also go through the emotional trauma of believing they have cancer, and may even start saying good-bye to loved ones unnecessarily.
Our Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Minnesota Can Handle Your Case
A cancer misdiagnosis will have devastating effects for patients and their entire families. If you or someone you love has suffered harm as a result, our Minnesota medical malpractice lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, can help you claim the full financial compensation you deserve. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more.
