The Dangers of Cancer Misdiagnosis

By Grant Law Office on November 24, 2014

One of the most unfortunate aspects of the medical industry is that the people we most rely on to guard our health and well-being often fail to spend enough time with their patients. There is no doubt that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are busy, but a moment of inattention or carelessness can have grave consequences.

Patients need careful attention and thorough examinations, especially in order to diagnose and treat cancer. However, if a doctor simply does not listen to a patient’s complaints, refuses to order appropriate tests, misreads the test results, or forgets to follow up on a test, they can easily miss the signs and symptoms of various types of cancer. Doctors may also jump to conclusions and ignore signs and symptoms which are inconsistent with their diagnosis. Dangerous conditions which are reasonably possible must always be treated or ruled out. When in doubt, dangerous conditions must be ruled out.

It is crucial to identify and diagnose cancer as soon as possible. If overlooked or misdiagnosed, cancer cells can grow and spread, worsening the patient’s chance of survival. As the condition spreads to other parts of the body, cancer treatment may more difficult and less successful. Therefore, when a doctor fails to investigate the warning signs of any form of this deadly disease, he or she may be held responsible for the dangerous outcome of negligent care.

According to numerous studies, delayed or incorrect diagnoses affect roughly 10 to 20 percent of all cases, many of which occur as a result of mistaken readings of diagnostic tests.

At Grant Law Office, our knowledgeable failure to diagnose cancer attorneys in Atlanta have the experience and resources to help you defend your rights as a victim of medical negligence. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of a careless physician, please contact our firm. We will help you understand your legal rights and options, and will act on your behalf to pursue your claim.