Compensating Negligence in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
The long-term outcome from a cancer diagnosis can be severe. The earlier diagnosis is achieved, the earlier treatment can be commenced. Negligence in this process may justify a claim for compensation.
Diagnosis failures
Although many different things may contribute to a delay in diagnosis, a failure by medical professionals to suspect this as a possible diagnosis is perhaps the most crucial. Unless cancer is taken in to account by medical practitioners, patients will not receive the referrals essential to a further investigation of their condition, such as blood tests and scans. They will not be given the opportunity to see a specialist.
If test results are incorrectly interpreted, the patent may be given the false notion that their symptoms reflect a different underlying cause and their ultimate diagnosis of cancer will be delayed.
Even if the symptoms are unclear, a failure to eek specialist advice, a failure to make a follow-up appointment or a failure to warn a patient of a possible deterioration in symptoms may lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment and be regarded as substandard care.
Timing and treatment
The timing of referrals and the initiation of treatment should take place within specified government guidelines and a failure by medical professionals to adhere to these timings may be regarded as substandard care.
Should the patient suffer a poor long-term outcome as a result of their substandard medical care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Two key timing targets in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer are as follows:
- For a patient suspected of suffering from cancer to be seen by a specialist within 14 days
- For a patient with cancer to begin their treatment within 62 days
The impact of negligence
At its very worse, the impact of delays in diagnosis and treatment can mean that the patient dies.
Where they survive, their long-term outcome can be made significantly worse by the effect of a delay in the receipt of medical care:
- Their cancer may have time to spread to other organs of the body, reducing the patient's life-span and requiring significant surgery to be carried out
- They may lose their bowel function as a result of the spread of the disease
- They may lose their fertility as a result of the negligence
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are suffering with the appalling long-term impact of cancer due to avoidable delays in diagnosis and treatment, contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence compensation.
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