One of the worst things a Joliet doctor can diagnose patients with is cancer.
Although no one wants to hear that they have cancer, patients certainly do not want to hear that their cancer has spread due to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer. A quick and accurate diagnosis of cancer is necessary for effectively treating the condition. But when cancer spreads to other parts of the body due to a doctor’s failure to diagnosis cancer, the patient may have to face the possibility of not surviving cancer, even after undergoing invasive procedures and treatments.
Because breast cancer can rapidly spread to other parts of the body, a quick diagnosis can be the difference between the life and death of a patient. Fortunately, there are tools and tests doctors and patients often use in order to detect breast cancer as soon as they possibly can.
A regular mammogram is an essential tool for detecting breast cancer in its early stages, but when radiologists fail to detect problems with regular mammograms, patients may suffer the consequences. Whether the failure to diagnose is because of negligence, a faulty reading or tumors simply not appearing on the final scan, radiologists and physicians may be held liable for not properly diagnosing a patient with breast cancer. They may also be held liable for not recommending a follow-up scan or not referring patients to another doctor for a second opinion.
If you or a loved one is suffering from a form of cancer that should have been detected and treated sooner by doctors, you should know that you may be eligible to obtain compensation for your pain, suffering and medical expenses. It is the mission of doctors and radiologists to properly perform cancer screenings and to detect any problematic results when reviewing screenings and medical tests. When results are not properly reviewed or communicated, doctors may be responsible for depriving their patients of life-saving treatment.
Source: DotMed, “Radiologists see most malpractice suits for mammography,” Loren Bonner, Feb. 6, 2013
