Failure to Diagnose Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer is the most common type of gynecologic cancer, but there is no single screening test to check for it. As such, doctors must rely on their patients’ health history and symptoms to determine if they should undergo testing for uterine cancer. Sadly, though, many physicians carelessly disregard patient concerns and fail to conduct the tests necessary to determine if uterine cancer is present. When cancer is not diagnosed, or a diagnosis is delayed, it will often spread to other parts of the body, causing irreparable harm. If you sustained losses due to your doctor’s failure to diagnose uterine cancer, you could be owed damages, and you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group can gather the evidence needed to provide you with a good chance of a successful result, and if you hire us, we will work diligently on your behalf.

Certain factors increase the risk of developing uterine cancer, including advanced age, obesity, a family history of uterine and other cancers, and some medications. Uterine cancer often causes abnormal bleeding or discharge and pain or pressure in the pelvic area. Pap smears conducted on women with uterine cancer will often have abnormal results, which should prompt their doctors to perform additional tests, like ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs. Physicians that believe cancer may be present will likely obtain tissue for biopsies to get a conclusive diagnosis. If a doctor neglects to take note of symptoms that may indicate cancer or perform diagnostic tests, it may result in a failure to diagnose uterine cancer.

The failure to diagnose uterine cancer often constitutes medical malpractice. As such, injured patients will frequently seek damages from their doctors in civil lawsuits. Typically, as the failure is usually caused by inattentiveness or neglect, they will assert medical negligence claims against the physicians that caused their harm.

In Maryland, to support a claim of medical negligence, a plaintiff first must show that the defendant had a duty to comply with the applicable standard of care, which is the treatment a reasonable professional working in the same practice area would provide in a similar situation. The plaintiff then must prove that the defendant’s actions or failure to act demonstrate a departure from the standard. In most instances, expert testimony is required to establish the standard and to describe how the defendant failed to comply with it.

A plaintiff must not only prove the defendant breached the standard of care but must also show that the breach directly caused the harm suffered by the plaintiff. In other words, the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s behavior was a substantial factor in bringing about the plaintiff’s injuries. Typically, this requires expert testimony as well.

A plaintiff that proves a defendant’s liability may be awarded the cost of any past medical treatment as well as the cost of care that may be needed in the future. A plaintiff that could not work because of the harm suffered may be able to recover lost wages as well. Additionally, in most cases a large portion of the damages awarded are meant to compensate the plaintiff for the mental anguish, pain, and emotional trauma caused by the defendant’s behavior.

Patients diagnosed with uterine cancer when it is in its early stages generally have a good prognosis, but if they are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread, their survival rates drop substantially. If you sustained harm due to your doctor’s failure to diagnose uterine cancer, you have the right to pursue compensation, and it is advisable to speak to a lawyer. The attorneys of Arfaa Law Group possess the skills and experience needed to prove negligent health care providers should be held accountable for the damages they cause, and if you hire us, we will help you seek a just outcome. We have an office in Baltimore, where we regularly represent people in medical malpractice lawsuits. You can contact us to schedule a conference via our online form or by calling us at (410) 889-1850.