It is known among lawyers and medical professionals alike that breast cancer is one of the most frequent misdiagnoses leading to medical malpractice claims, as one of the top errors made by surgeons, family practitioners, OB-GYNs, and other professionals is a failure to detect breast cancer. Breast cancer has been on the rise since the 1970s and is a major concern for women.
Misdiagnosis can mean several different things. Some women are diagnosed with breast cancer and treated when they, in fact, do not have cancer, while others aren’t diagnosed when they do have cancer, which is one of the most common cases. Delayed diagnosis falls under misdiagnosis, too, and occurs when professionals fail to diagnose breast cancer until it’s already progressed or has caused injuries and/or side effects.
How Do Professionals Miss a Breast Cancer Diagnosis?
When it comes to breast cancer, one of the tell-tale signs medical professionals look out for is the appearance of one or more breast lumps. Many professionals delay diagnosis or fail to diagnose when they’re unable to detect a breast lump, whether through a medical breast examination or on a mammogram screening.
Breast lumps that indicate breast cancer are also misdiagnosed as the following benign conditions:
- Fibroadenomas
- Breast cysts
- Blocked milk ducts
Other forms of medical malpractice occur when doctors misread CT scans or x-rays, fail to follow up with their patients about the results of a positive test, or fail to screen for breast cancer.
The Dangers of Delayed Diagnosis
Missed diagnoses are a common reason for medical malpractice claims filed against radiologists. Missed diagnosis of breast cancer should be taken seriously because any time there is an unnecessary delay in diagnosis, that means there will be a delay in treatment, and outcomes will almost always be worse. If women aren’t diagnosed or informed of their diagnosis until later, their breast cancer can metastasize and be more difficult to treat. Women may also pass away from breast cancer in some cases before they’ve gotten the chance to seek treatment.
While some delayed diagnoses result from failure to notice to test breast lumps, they can also occur as a result of carelessness, lack of proper training, lab errors, and incompetence. Medical negligence is unacceptable – we as patients trust our trained and certified doctors, nurses, and other professionals to care for our health, as they have an obligation to give each of us a duty of care.
If you have had your breast cancer misdiagnosed and have suffered as a result, don’t hesitate to call our attorneys for legal counsel. The people, labs, or hospitals responsible must be held accountable for their actions so they don’t harm other women.
Millions Secured for Clients
We expect our medical professionals to prioritize our health and act in due diligence to treat our health conditions, not make them worse. Failing to diagnose a medical condition can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities and is unacceptable. At the Law Offices of David C. Rash, we can handle all the details of your case and work on holding at-fault doctors responsible for their actions so you can focus on healing. We’ve recovered millions in damages including medical and hospital bills, pain and suffering, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and more. Our medical malpractice attorneys aren’t daunted by going up against hospitals and other medical institutions on your behalf. Your health is our number one priority. You shouldn’t have to suffer as a result of a doctor’s unacceptable negligence.
Have you been misdiagnosed or had a delay in diagnosis that resulted in severe injuries or a progression of your cancer? Don’t hesitate to call the Law Offices of David C. Rash for legal representation at (954) 914-7116, or contact us online. We’ve recovered millions in settlements for clients injured by medical malpractice.