While any cancer diagnosis is a cause for concern, cervical cancer is usually treatable when it is found at an early stage. If it is not caught until it is in advanced stages, though, the prognosis is less favorable, and patients with late stage cervical cancer frequently succumb to the disease. In many instances, cervical cancer progresses due to a doctor’s failure to perform the tests necessary to determine an accurate diagnosis. If you were hurt due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose cervical cancer, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer. The skillful Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group are adept at holding negligent healthcare providers accountable for the harm they cause, and if we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to help you seek the best outcome available in your case.
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical CancerWhen cervical cancer is in the early stages, it typically does not cause any symptoms. Cancerous and pre-cancerous cells may be identified via a pap smear, however. Thus, if a doctor fails to conduct such tests regularly or does not take the measures needed to address any concerning test results, it can lead to a delayed diagnosis of cancer. When cervical cancer progresses, it can lead to pelvic pain, bleeding, and discharge. If a physician does not take note of concerning symptoms or order a pap smear or other diagnostic test, cervical cancer can spread to other parts of the body, making it more difficult to treat.
Elements of a Maryland Medical Malpractice CaseWhen there is a failure to diagnose cervical cancer, it often constitutes medical malpractice. Fortunately, patients who suffer devastating losses due to an undiagnosed illness can often recover damages from the healthcare providers that caused their harm. In Maryland, a plaintiff in a lawsuit arising out of medical malpractice must generally prove the defendant was negligent. To do so, the plaintiff must establish a duty, a breach of the duty, damages, and causation.
The duty owed by a defendant in a medical malpractice case is the obligation to provide the plaintiff with the care or treatment expected from a reasonable practitioner working in the same specialty as the defendant when faced with a similar scenario. A breach will arise when the defendant’s acts or failure to act constitute a departure from the standard of care. Typically, the standard of care imposed on a medical professional is beyond the average person’s understanding, so expert testimony will be required to explain both the duty owed by the defendant and the manner in which it was breached.
A plaintiff that proves the defendant breached the duty owed must establish that the breach caused the plaintiff to suffer harm. While the violation does not have to be the sole cause of the plaintiff’s losses, it must be a significant factor in bringing them about, and the plaintiff must show the harm would not have occurred absent the breach. The plaintiff must prove actual damages as well.
Damages Awarded in Medical Malpractice CasesA plaintiff that successfully establishes a defendant’s liability regarding failure to diagnose cervical cancer may be granted compensation for the costs of any past or future medical treatment needed due to the defendant’s negligence and damages for lost wages or loss of future earnings. Typically, a plaintiff will also be awarded a significant sum for the pain, mental trauma, and suffering endured due to the harm caused by the defendant’s behavior.
Discuss Your Harm With a Lawyer in BaltimoreSadly, cervical cancer often goes undiagnosed due to doctors’ failures to perform standard diagnostic tests, causing many women to suffer substantial losses. If you sustained harm due to a physician’s careless failure to diagnose you with cervical cancer, you should discuss your potential claims with an attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned lawyers proudly help people injured by medical malpractice in the pursuit of damages, and we will fight aggressively on your behalf. We frequently help people pursue medical malpractice cases in Baltimore, where our office is located. You can contact us at (410) 889-1850 or through our form online to schedule a consultation.