Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis
Nearly any illness or injury can benefit from prompt diagnosis and treatment, but early care is vital when it comes to cancer. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for cancer to be misdiagnosed, especially when it comes to lung cancer. Lung cancer misdiagnosis can lead to a number of physical, emotional, and financial damages, and possibly even death.
A medical misdiagnosis lawyer from Zucker & Regev, P.C. can work with individuals in the Brooklyn, NY, area to hold liable parties accountable for damages related to misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. Here, we go over the common causes of lung cancer misdiagnosis, the losses caused by this medical error, and how to know if a medical malpractice claim should be filed.
Causes of Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis
Lung cancer is highly treatable when it is diagnosed in its early stages. It becomes more difficult to treat if it is misdiagnosed or diagnosed after it has progressed to a later stage. Sadly, lung cancer is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed forms of cancer. This disease may be misdiagnosed for a number of reasons, including:
- Failure to include lung cancer on a potential diagnoses list (lung cancer symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses and diseases, including asthma, COVID-19, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and COPD)
- Dismissal or reported lung cancer symptoms because the patient seems young and healthy
- Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests
- Error when processing or performing diagnostic tests (such as biopsy or imaging scans)
- Misreading of test results
- Failure to report test results or refer the patient to a specialist in a timely manner
Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis Damages
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can have huge consequences for individuals suffering from lung cancer. Lung cancer is an aggressive disease that can progress to more advanced stages rather quickly. As a result, misdiagnosis can lead to:
- More advanced stages of illness
- Missed treatment opportunities
- Need for more aggressive treatment
- Lower survival rate
- Increased healthcare costs
- Need for extensive time off work (leading to loss of income or diminished wage-earning capacity)
- Prolonged pain and suffering
Do I Have a Medical Malpractice Case?
Misdiagnosis alone is not enough to warrant a medical malpractice claim. The patient, or a legal representative, needs to demonstrate that the misdiagnosis was caused by negligent or subpar medical care. Essentially, the plaintiff needs to show that the misdiagnosis occurred because the acting medical professional failed to deliver care that met up to the accepted standard, or the degree of care they could have expected from a similarly trained medical professional presented with the same set of circumstances.
Medical professionals often have extensive legal teams on their side ready to fight against charges of medical malpractice, so it is vital that victims work with their own legal team. The medical malpractice lawyers from Zucker & Regev, P.C. gather the evidence necessary to prove liability so that our Brooklyn clients can be justly compensated for misdiagnosis damages. Potential sources of evidence include medical records and testimony from other medical professionals.
Learn More
If you have suffered physical, emotional, or financial losses related to a lung cancer misdiagnosis, you may have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim. To learn about the types of damages you may be due, call our Brooklyn law firm at (718) 624-1211 or send us a message.