Cancer Misdiagnosis and How To Claim Compensation
A misdiagnosis of a serious condition can cause not only physical suffering but also psychological and financial suffering to the patient and their family. Negligent medical care may justify a claim for compensation.
The problem with a misdiagnosis
There are multiple reasons why a misdiagnosis of a patient's symptoms can be a problem:
- It can provide the medical professional with an incorrect belief that the problem has been identified and is being dealt with, meaning that insufficient safety-netting, if any, is put in place
- It can give the patient a false sense of security, meaning that they may not act if their symptoms worsen or change
- It can allow time for a condition to deteriorate still further
- Tests and investigations which may be a matter of urgency may not be put in place, delaying the correct diagnosis and treatment
When the misdiagnosis relates to cancer, the long-term impact can be devastating. A delay in diagnosis may allow the cancer to spread, reducing the patient's chance of survival and reducing the time which may remain to them. A possible survival period of five years may be reduced to three years or two or only months.
Both the nature and extent of the treatment available may change and the long-term impact on the patient, even where they survive, may be life-changing.
Frequently, the impact will affect not only the patient but their family and friends.
How to claim compensation
If a patient suffers a worse outcome following negligent or substandard medical care, they are entitled to claim compensation for the impact of that negligence.
A successful compensation claim will take account of the varied financial losses which have been caused by the negligence. For example, if an individual is no longer able to work due to the impact of their delayed diagnosis, this financial loss would be incorporated into a claim. Costs of care necessitated by the consequences of the negligence would also be taken into account.
If you think that you or a loved one may have been the victim of negligent medical care, the first step is to talk to a legal specialist. They will be able to access your medical records and engage the services of the best medical experts who will assess the quality of your medical care and its impact on your health.
Speak to a specialist
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced solicitors. Contact us today to speak with an expert, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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