Maryland, Virginia & Washington, D.C. Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers

Legal Action When a Misdiagnosis Causes Serious Harm

At Portner & Shure, P.A., we are committed to fighting for the rights of the patients who have suffered the consequences of a cancer misdiagnosis in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. A cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional incorrectly identifies the symptoms of cancer and causes delayed treatment and worsened health outcomes. We believe such a mistake is never acceptable and should be answered with legal action. You need a top injury firm that has the experience, resources, and compassion to navigate the complexities of such medical negligence claims and is committed to exploring all legal avenues to uphold your rights.

We don't just represent you; we stand with you in the pursuit of justice. Call (855) 954-4141 now to learn more.

Types of Cancer Misdiagnoses

Cancer misdiagnosis can occur in various ways, depending on the errors committed by healthcare providers. The type of cancer involved can also influence the likelihood of misdiagnosis, with some forms of the disease including breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer being commonly misdiagnosed. At Portner & Shure, P.A., our attorneys can carefully investigate the unique circumstances of your case to better understand the exact nature of the cancer misdiagnosis that has hurt you or a loved one.

Three primary types of cancer misdiagnosis are:

• Misdiagnosis: A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor incorrectly identifies cancer as a different condition. For example, a cancerous lump might be diagnosed as benign or as an unrelated medical issue. This mistake can lead to inappropriate treatments that don't address the actual problem and allow the cancer to progress unchecked.
• Late diagnosis: In these cases, a diagnosis is unnecessarily delayed due to mistakes that should have been avoidable. This delay could be due to a physician failing to order appropriate tests or a laboratory taking too long to process test results. A late diagnosis can result in the cancer advancing to a more severe stage, limiting treatment options, and potentially worsening the patient's prognosis.
• No diagnosis: Sometimes, despite presenting symptoms, no diagnosis is ever given. This mistake could happen if a doctor dismisses a patient's symptoms as minor or unrelated issues. Without a correct diagnosis, the patient cannot receive the correct treatment.

How Do Cancer Misdiagnoses Happen?

In most instances of cancer misdiagnosis, the root cause can be traced back to the negligence of the medical provider. Negligence in the context of a cancer misdiagnosis case refers to a failure to provide the standard of care that could reasonably be expected from a competent healthcare professional in similar circumstances. Such lapses in duty can lead to errors in diagnosis, delayed or inappropriate treatment, and worsened cancer symptoms.

Common errors that can contribute to a cancer misdiagnosis include:

• Inexperience: If a healthcare professional lacks experience or specialized knowledge, they may fail to recognize the signs and symptoms of certain types of cancer, leading to misdiagnosis.
• Incorrect diagnostic testing: Sometimes, the wrong tests are ordered or administered incorrectly, which can result in misleading or unusable results.
• Misinterpreted test results: Even when the correct tests are performed, there is potential for error in interpreting the results. A radiologist might miss a tumor on a scan, or a pathologist might incorrectly analyze a biopsy sample, for example.
• No follow-up with patient: If a doctor fails to follow up with a patient regarding test results or changes in symptoms, it can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
• Medical negligence: Commonplace mistakes, such as miscommunication between medical staff or overlooking a patient's medical history, can also result in misdiagnosis. Even a seasoned oncologist can make simple but devastating medical errors.

Harm & Losses Caused by Cancer Misdiagnoses

A cancer misdiagnosis can lead to severe consequences that extend far beyond health implications. The resulting physical, emotional, and financial damages can be overwhelming, necessitating legal action to seek compensation. Our team of accomplished injury attorneys is prepared to represent patients in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., taking their cases to court if necessary to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

Some of the devastating harms and losses that can be caused by a cancer misdiagnosis are:

• Worsening condition: When a correct diagnosis is delayed or missed entirely, the patient's condition can drastically deteriorate, which could lead to the cancer progressing to a more advanced stage, reducing treatment options, and impacting the patient's prognosis.
• Wrongful death: In the most tragic cases, a misdiagnosis can lead to premature death. If the correct diagnosis had been made in a timely manner, the patient might have had access to life-saving treatments.
• Increased medical expenses: A misdiagnosis often means unnecessary treatments for the wrong condition, leading to wasted resources and increased medical expenses. Once the correct diagnosis is finally made, the patient may face additional costs for the appropriate cancer treatment, which can be significantly higher due to the advanced stage of the disease.

Fighting for Full Compensation After a Cancer Misdiagnosis

At Portner & Shure, P.A., our commitment to our clients' well-being is unwavering. We are prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve, no matter what challenges lie ahead. Our cancer misdiagnosis attorneys are not deterred by the complexity or value of a case, even when it involves claims worth several million dollars that are met with aggressive defense from the opposing side. We are equipped with the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to take on these hard-fought cases and pursue the best possible outcome for our clients.

In a cancer misdiagnosis claim, two main types of damages are:

• Economic damages: Economic or “special” damages represent the tangible financial losses resulting from the misdiagnosis, including medical expenses both past and future, lost wages due to inability to work, cost of rehabilitation services, and any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the misdiagnosis and subsequent treatment.
• Non-economic damages: Non-economic or “general” damages are intangible losses that do not have a direct monetary value but significantly affect the plaintiff's quality of life, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Talk to Our Trusted Medical Malpractice Attorneys About Your Case – Call Now

If a cancer misdiagnosis has caused you harm or took the life of a loved one, you deserve justice. Portner & Shure, P.A. would be honored to be the law firm that helps you pursue it, as well as justified compensation for your losses. See what our trial attorneys can do for you by reaching out today—we’re always available to talk to new and returning clients in need of counsel.

For a free case evaluation, start by calling (855) 954-4141 now.