Chicago Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer

Compensation for Delayed or Wrong Cancer Diagnoses

A Chicago cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help you seek justice when medical negligence leads to a delayed or incorrect cancer diagnosis. Discovering a misdiagnosis is an incredibly devastating experience. 

You place your trust in doctors and healthcare providers to guide you through one of life’s most difficult challenges, expecting accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. When that trust is broken, the consequences can be life-altering.

When this happens, you are entitled to justice and compensation. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to help. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation. 

Settlements Recovered by Chicago Law Firm

When cancer is misdiagnosed, the consequences can be devastating. Settlements in cases involving cancer misdiagnosis won’t fix the problem, but they compensate victims for the harm they have endured due to medical negligence or malpractice. For example:

We settled a cancer misdiagnosis case for $5 million. A 55-year-old woman with a history of smoking was diagnosed with lung cancer. Over a two-year period, multiple X-rays revealed a growth, but the doctors involved failed to recognize and diagnose the cancer promptly. This delay allowed the cancer to progress to a more severe and less treatable stage.  

What is a Cancer Misdiagnosis?

A cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a medical provider fails to correctly identify cancer in a patient. These misdiagnoses can result from medical negligence, significantly impacting cancer patients by delaying proper treatment and reducing survival rates. The following are the most common instances of cancer misdiagnosis:  

• Delayed Diagnosis: This happens when a physician does not promptly recognize cancer, allowing the disease to advance. For instance, if a doctor misses early signs of lung cancer on a routine scan, the delay can significantly decrease the chances of successful treatment.   
• Incorrect Diagnosis: This occurs when a medical provider mistakenly identifies a different medical condition instead of cancer. For example, cervical cancer might be incorrectly diagnosed as a benign gynecological issue due to misinterpretation of pap smears or other test results, leading to ineffective treatment.
• Failure to Diagnose: Failure to diagnose happens when cancer is entirely overlooked despite clear indicators. For example, a doctor might fail to diagnose breast cancer when examining a patient’s medical records and test results, resulting in the cancer progressing undetected and untreated.

Victims of cases involving cancer misdiagnosis may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Schedule a free consultation with our medical malpractice lawyers. 

Types of Cancer Commonly Misdiagnosed

Cancers can be challenging to diagnose accurately due to their diverse symptoms and the potential for medical errors. Certain types of cancer are more frequently misdiagnosed, which can lead to delayed treatment and adversely affect survival rates. Commonly misdiagnosed or undiagnosed cancers include:

• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colon cancer
• Lung cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer

This is not an exhaustive list. If you or a loved one has been affected, speak with our cancer misdiagnosis attorneys.  

Causes of Cancer Misdiagnosis 

Several factors contribute to cancer misdiagnosis, often including one or more of the following: 

Failure to Order Appropriate Tests

Medical professionals must order the right diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose cancer. Failure to order necessary tests, such as biopsies or imaging scans, can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses. 

Misinterpretation of Test Results

Diagnostic errors frequently arise from the misinterpretation of test results. Medical providers rely on tests like pathology reports and X-rays to diagnose cancer accurately. If these results are misread or incorrectly analyzed, doctors may provide an inaccurate diagnosis.   

Inadequate Follow-Up

Inadequate follow-up appointments and monitoring can significantly contribute to cancer misdiagnosis. After an initial appointment, regular check-ups and continuous monitoring of a patient’s condition are crucial for early detection and early diagnosis. 

Communication Errors

Effective communication between healthcare providers and with patients is vital for accurate cancer diagnosis. Miscommunication can occur when doctors fail to share critical information about a patient’s symptoms or medical history, or when patients fail to communicate their symptoms clearly. 

If you’ve experienced this and need help, speak with our Chicago medical malpractice and negligence attorneys about a medical misdiagnosis lawsuit.  

Impact of Cancer Misdiagnosis

A cancer misdiagnosis can have far-reaching effects on patients and their families. Understanding these impacts highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and the role of medical malpractice attorneys in securing fair compensation.

Delayed Treatment

A misdiagnosis can significantly delay potentially life-saving cancer treatment, allowing the disease to progress to a more serious condition. Without a timely diagnosis, cancers like prostate cancer or ovarian cancer may advance, reducing the chances of successful treatment and worsening the prognosis.    

Unnecessary Treatment

Cancer misdiagnosis can result in patients undergoing treatments or surgeries that are not necessary, exposing them to additional risks and side effects. For instance, a wrong diagnosis might lead to invasive procedures that are not needed, causing serious harm and increasing medical bills. 

Emotional Distress

The emotional and psychological toll of a cancer misdiagnosis on patients and their families is immense. Coping with incorrect diagnoses, undergoing unwarranted treatments, and facing the uncertainty of a delayed diagnosis can lead to significant emotional distress. 

Financial Burden

Cancer misdiagnosis often results in substantial financial consequences, including increased medical expenses and lost income.  

If you or a loved one has been affected by any of the above, speak with our medical malpractice lawyers.    

Legal Recourse for Cancer Misdiagnosis

Pursuing legal recourse after a cancer misdiagnosis is essential to hold negligent medical professionals accountable and secure appropriate compensation for the harm you’ve endured. Understanding your options and the legal process is crucial for navigating these challenging situations. 

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when doctors fail to deliver the standard of care expected, resulting in patient harm. In cancer misdiagnosis cases, medical malpractice can involve wrong diagnosis, failure to timely diagnose, or failure to diagnose cancer altogether. 

Our Chicago misdiagnosis attorneys specialize in handling these complex medical malpractice cases to advocate for victims and their families. 

Proving Negligence 

To establish a medical malpractice case, four elements must be proven:

• Standard of Care: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the medical professionals had a duty of care toward them – for example, there was a doctor-patient relationship. 
• Breach of Duty: Next, they must show that the healthcare provider failed to act in accordance with the accepted standard of care. This could be not ordering appropriate tests like biopsies or imaging scans.
• Causation: Plaintiffs must then show that there is a clear link between the breach of this duty and the injuries they’ve suffered. 
• Damages: Finally, plaintiffs must show that they suffered actual damages. This generally includes medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other financial and emotional impacts.

Expert witnesses, typically medical experts, play a crucial role in these cases by providing testimony that supports cancer misdiagnosis claims.  

Statute of Limitations

In Illinois, you must file a medical malpractice lawsuit by a specific deadline, known as the statute of limitations. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, you typically have two years from the date of the misdiagnosis or discovery of the error to file a lawsuit. 

However, there can be exceptions based on the circumstances, such as when the injury was not immediately apparent. In these cases, the medical malpractice statute of limitations in Illinois would be extended. 

It’s essential to consult with cancer misdiagnosis attorneys in Chicago to ensure you do not miss this deadline, or you will lose your chance to obtain compensation. Contact us today to speak with our medical malpractice lawyers.  

The Role of a Chicago Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer

When facing a cancer misdiagnosis, having the right legal support can make a significant difference in achieving a favorable outcome. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we understand medical malpractice law and will help you get the justice you deserve. Here’s why you need a lawyer. 

Legal Expertise

Having a lawyer with extensive experience in medical malpractice and cancer misdiagnosis cases is crucial. Our attorneys in Chicago have significant knowledge of Illinois law and the standards that health care providers must meet to ensure a proper diagnosis. 

We can help you file claims against hospitals such as:

• Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• University of Chicago Medical Center
• Rush University Medical Center
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
• John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
• Mount Sinai Hospital
• Swedish Hospital
• Thorek Memorial Hospital
• Methodist Hospital of Chicago
• Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital
• University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
• Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center
• Holy Cross Hospital
• Provident Hospital of Cook County
• Chicago Lakeshore Hospital

Investigation and Evidence Gathering

A thorough investigation is essential in cancer misdiagnosis cases. Our personal injury lawyers meticulously gather and review all relevant medical records, including test results and treatment histories, to identify any missed diagnoses or errors in medical treatment. We collaborate with medical experts to analyze the situation.

Negotiation and Litigation

Our law firm is skilled at negotiating settlements that reflect the true extent of your losses. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, we are fully prepared to litigate your case in court.  

Types of Damages You Can Recover                

When pursuing a cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit, understanding the types of damages you can recover is essential for securing the compensation you deserve. Common types include:   

• Past and future medical expenses 
• Current lost income
• Decreases in future earning capacity
• Physical pain
• Emotional distress
• Decreased quality of life
• Loss of consortium

If you need help with a cancer misdiagnosis claim, we’re here for you. Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today. 

Consult a Chicago Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer Near You!

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we understand how difficult and overwhelming it can be to deal with a cancer misdiagnosis. You shouldn’t have to face this situation alone, which is where we come in. Our compassionate and experienced cancer misdiagnosis attorneys are here to help you navigate your legal options and seek the justice you deserve. 

We offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case so you know what steps to take next. Call (888) 424-5757 or complete our online contact form as soon as you’re ready to get started.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.