Michigan Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney
Let Lipton Law Help With Your Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim
One of the most devastating things a person can experience is a cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, some people experience a wrongful cancer diagnosis, a delayed cancer diagnosis, a missed cancer diagnosis, or even an incorrect cancer diagnosis. This can lead to unnecessary treatments, delayed care, and even life-threatening outcomes.
If you or a loved one has been affected by this type of medical negligence, you need a trusted cancer misdiagnosis attorney in MI who can help you understand your legal options. At Lipton Law, we serve individuals and families in Southfield, MI, by holding negligent health care providers accountable.
Our MI medical malpractice attorneys handle a variety of lawsuits involving cancer misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, and failure to diagnose. Our goal is to help victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. We offer free consultations so you can discuss your cancer misdiagnosis claim with no financial commitment.
Call (248) 557-1688 or contact us online to speak with a cancer misdiagnosis lawyer on our team today.
Common Cancer Diagnostic Issues in Michigan
Cancer patients have the best chance at effective cancer treatment when their condition is detected early. Unfortunately, diagnostic errors can lead to unnecessary delays or incorrect care.
Negligent doctors and other health care providers may misinterpret test results, ignore risk factors, or fail to order the proper diagnostic tests, preventing patients from getting an accurate diagnosis and the medical treatment they need.
So, how often is cancer misdiagnosed? Unfortunately, cancer misdiagnoses happen more than they should. Below are some of the most common medical errors related to cancer misdiagnosis cases in Michigan.
Delayed Cancer Diagnosis
A delayed diagnosis occurs when a doctor fails to detect cancer in a timely manner, allowing the disease to progress unchecked. This can happen due to dismissing early risk factors or not running specific diagnostic tests.
When doctors fail to timely diagnose cancer, patients may end up requiring more aggressive treatment, endure significant physical pain, and suffer life-altering consequences.
If you or a loved one experienced a delayed cancer diagnosis, our Michigan delayed diagnosis attorneys can help you pursue a medical malpractice claim for the harm you have experienced.
Failure to Diagnose Cancer
A failure to diagnose occurs when a medical professional completely fails to diagnose a patient with cancer, despite having enough evidence to diagnose them. Without a proper diagnosis, patients may miss the opportunity for early detection, which can significantly affect their cancer treatment options.
If you were harmed because of a failure to diagnose, you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit against the responsible parties. Our Southfield, MI failure to diagnose lawyers can evaluate your situation to determine whether or not you have a valid claim.
Receiving the Wrong Cancer Diagnosis
The wrong cancer diagnosis can lead to unnecessary suffering. Some patients endure aggressive treatment like chemotherapy or surgery for a cancer they do not have. Meanwhile, their actual condition goes untreated, worsening over time. These medical errors are often the result of diagnostic errors, mislabeled lab work, or a medical provider failing to confirm a diagnosis with additional testing.
If you have received an incorrect diagnosis, a cancer misdiagnosis attorney in Southfield, MI, can help you file a medical malpractice claim to hold negligent doctors accountable.
Being Wrongly Diagnosed With Cancer
Some health conditions can have the same symptoms as cancer, leading to an incorrect diagnosis and potential medical harm. But what can be mistaken for cancer? Conditions such as autoimmune diseases, serious health conditions, and benign tumors are commonly misdiagnosed as cancer.
While a person may not actually have cancer, being wrongly diagnosed with cancer can cause unnecessary fear and can lead to incorrect medical treatment. In some situations, patients may experience the harmful side effects from chemotherapy or radiation, as well as complications from their actual, incorrectly diagnosed health condition.
If you have suffered due to a wrongful cancer misdiagnosis, our MI medical malpractice lawyers can help you pursue justice.
What Causes Cancer Misdiagnosis?
There are a lot of things that could lead to a cancer misdiagnosis, including:
- Doctors failing to review a patient’s medical records properly
- Doctors misinterpreting test results
- Doctors failing to refer patients to specialists when further testing is needed
- A patient having a health conditions with symptoms similar to cancer
- A patient having one cancer with symptoms similar to another type of cancer
When these mistakes occur, patients may suffer unnecessary treatments, worsening health conditions, or missed opportunities for life-saving care.
Types of Cancer That Are Commonly Misdiagnosed
Many cancers have symptoms that look like other illnesses, leading doctors to mistake them for something less serious. Below are some of the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers, why they are often missed, and how these mistakes affect patients.
Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis
Lung cancer symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain, are often mistaken for less serious conditions like asthma or pneumonia. A misdiagnosis can lead to delays in treatment, allowing the disease to spread.
When lung cancer is not identified in a timely manner, patients may require more aggressive treatment or face a reduced chance of survival.
Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed cancers, often mistaken for cysts, infections, or benign lumps. Errors can occur when health care providers fail to diagnose breast cancer early, either by misreading mammograms or failing to order biopsies.
A delayed diagnosis can limit cancer treatment options, while the wrong cancer diagnosis may lead to unnecessary surgery or chemotherapy.
Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis
Pancreatic cancer can go undetected in its early stages because the symptoms, such as stomach pain and weight loss, are often attributed to digestive issues. Unfortunately, many pancreatic cancer cases remain undiagnosed until the disease has progressed.
Some doctors fail to recognize warning signs, leading to a delayed diagnosis that limits cancer treatment options. A failure to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages can significantly impact a patient’s prognosis.
Pancreatic cancer can go undetected in its early stages because the symptoms, such as stomach pain and weight loss, are often attributed to digestive issues. Unfortunately, many pancreatic cancer cases remain undiagnosed until the disease has progressed.
Some doctors fail to recognize warning signs, leading to a delayed diagnosis that limits cancer treatment options. A failure to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages can significantly impact a patient’s prognosis.
Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis
Prostate cancer can be mistaken for conditions like an enlarged prostate or a urinary tract infection.
When doctors overlook risk factors or do not order the necessary screening tests, patients may not receive a correct diagnosis until the prostate cancer has advanced. Misreading test results or failing to refer patients to a specialist can also result in missed opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment.
Brain Cancer Misdiagnosis
Because brain cancer shares symptoms with migraines and other neurological conditions, it is frequently overlooked. A misdiagnosis can delay necessary medical treatment, allowing tumors to grow unchecked.
In some medical malpractice cases, doctors fail to order an MRI or CT scan, leading to a delayed diagnosis. The failure to catch brain cancer early can cause irreversible damage and reduce treatment options.
Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis
Colorectal cancer is a type of colon cancer that is sometimes mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or hemorrhoids. Failing to diagnose cancer in the colon can prevent patients from receiving medical treatment when the disease is most treatable.
Some medical professionals fail to order a colonoscopy when symptoms arise, allowing the cancer to spread. Misdiagnosing colorectal cancer can lead to more extensive surgeries and worsened health outcomes for patients.
Kidney Cancer Misdiagnosis
Kidney cancer can be confused with bladder cancer or kidney stones because it can cause back pain and blood in the urine. If doctors overlook symptoms or misinterpret a patient’s medical history, they may not catch the disease early enough.
A kidney cancer misdiagnosis can mean patients either do not get the proper treatment or go through unnecessary medical procedures for a condition they do not have.
Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis
Skin cancer can look like harmless moles, rashes, or infections, which means it is sometimes overlooked. If a doctor does not take a suspicious spot seriously or does not perform a biopsy, it can lead to a delayed diagnosis or even a complete misdiagnosis.
Without early detection, skin cancer can spread, making treatment more difficult. Doctors who fail to properly examine or test abnormal skin growths may put patients at risk for serious complications.
Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosis
Ovarian cancer is one of the hardest cancers to detect early because it often does not cause noticeable symptoms until it has already progressed. Unlike other types of cancer, there is currently no reliable screening test to catch ovarian cancer in its earliest stages. This makes it even more important for doctors to take symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, or changes in appetite seriously, especially if a patient has a family history of the disease.
When a medical provider fails to recognize warning signs, dismisses concerns, or does not order the necessary diagnostic tests, a delayed diagnosis can allow the cancer to spread before treatment begins.
What Happens When You Receive the Wrong Cancer Diagnosis in Michigan?
When doctors misdiagnose cancer cases, patients may either undergo wrongful cancer treatment for a disease they do not have or miss the medical treatment they desperately need. These mistakes can lead to serious medical complications and extreme emotional suffering. In severe cases, they can lead to wrongful death.
According to Johns Hopkins Medical Researchers, cancer is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions that leads to death or permanent injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm from this kind of medical negligence, an experienced Southfield cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Delayed Cancer Treatment
When a doctor mistakes cancer for another illness, the delay in diagnosis can allow the cancer to spread. This makes the cancer more challenging to treat and reduces a patient’s chances of recovery.
Some cancer cases, like lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cancer, are much harder to treat in advanced stages. A delayed diagnosis can lead to more aggressive treatments, increased medical expenses, and significant emotional suffering for patients and their families.
Wrongful Cancer Treatment
Being told you have cancer when you do not can be just as harmful as missing a cancer diagnosis. Wrongful cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for a condition you do not have. This can then cause severe side effects and long-term health problems.
Patients who receive the wrong treatment often experience unnecessary physical pain, financial hardship from hospital bills, and extreme stress. In tragic cases, a misdiagnosis can lead to wrongful death if the actual illness goes untreated.
Can You Sue A Doctor For Misdiagnosis of Cancer in Michigan?
Yes, you can sue a doctor for a cancer misdiagnosis in Michigan. Doctors have a duty to provide accurate and timely care. When they fail to diagnose cancer properly, it can cause physical and emotional harm and even life-threatening consequences.
Filing a cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit allows patients and their families to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
What is the Statute of Limitations on Medical Malpractice in Michigan?
In Michigan, victims have two years from the date of the alleged malpractice, or six months from the date the injury was, or should have been, discovered, whichever comes later.
Like most states, Michigan has a statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases, meaning there is only a limited time to file a claim. You may lose the right to seek compensation if the lawsuit is not filed within this timeframe.
That’s why it is crucial to speak with our experienced Michigan medical malpractice attorneys as soon as possible. We will handle the legal process and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed on time so you can focus on your health and recovery.
How To Prove Negligence In a Michigan Cancer Misdiagnosis Case
To prove medical negligence in a cancer misdiagnosis case, the evidence has to be sufficient enough to demonstrate liability on the part of the defendant. To do this, you must prove the following:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed between the plaintiff and the defendant.
- The doctor acted negligently, and that negligence caused your cancer misdiagnosis.
- The misdiagnosis directly led to your harm.
- The misdiagnosis resulted in specific damages for you.
How Our Southfield, MI Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorneys Can Help
If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a cancer misdiagnosis, the Southfield, MI attorneys at Lipton Law can guide you through the cancer misdiagnosis claim process. We understand that filing a medical malpractice lawsuit may seem overwhelming. As a trusted Michigan medical malpractice law firm, we’re here to make the process easier for you.
In addition to having a team of experienced legal professionals, our law firm employs multiple nurses who review every single medical malpractice case we take on. This allows us to manage, investigate, and understand medical malpractice claims better than most other law firms. Our goal is to help you pursue justice and receive fair compensation for your losses.
Case Results From Our Previous Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawsuits
Every cancer misdiagnosis case is different, and the amount of compensation depends on the specific details of your situation. While there is no fixed payout for a medical malpractice lawsuit, our attorneys have successfully helped clients recover compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
At Lipton Law, we’ve helped victims of medical malpractice recover millions of dollars in damages. We’ve even helped a woman recover $3.15 million after her breast cancer was misdiagnosed. If your doctor failed to provide you with a correct or timely diagnosis for your cancer, we can help you understand what kind of compensation you may be entitled to.
Contact a Michigan Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer at Lipton Law Today
At Lipton Law in Southfield, MI, we know that every medical malpractice case is different. That’s why we are committed to providing personalized, compassionate support to each of our clients.
Our law firm understands how overwhelming a cancer misdiagnosis can be for patients and their families. No one should have to suffer due to a negligent doctor’s mistake, and you deserve compensation for the pain, stress, and inadequate care you have experienced.
Call (248) 557-1688 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation with a Michigan cancer misdiagnosis lawyer today.
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