Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Any misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose can result in negative consequences for the patient. A breast cancer misdiagnosis can be especially catastrophic since cancer is such an aggressive disease. If breast cancer is not diagnosed and treated early on, the risk of death increases.
Misdiagnosis lawyers at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, understand the potential physical, emotional, and financial damages of a breast cancer misdiagnosis. They work with individuals in Salt Lake City, and across Utah, to hold negligent medical professionals accountable for the losses associated with a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose.
Causes of Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Breast cancer misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to diagnose can occur for a number of reasons. Oftentimes, misdiagnosis is the result of medical neglect or medical error.
If misdiagnosis is caused by a mistake that would not have been made by a similarly trained medical professional who was presented with the same set of circumstances, the misdiagnosis can be classified as medical malpractice. Medical malpractice errors that can cause breast cancer misdiagnosis include:
- Failure to reasonably recognize breast cancer symptoms
- Failure to order mammogram or other diagnostic imaging tests
- Failure to perform a biopsy on abnormal tissue
- Failure to properly read or interpret breast cancer test results
- Delayed or inappropriate breast cancer treatment
Consequences of Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Whether a breast cancer misdiagnosis involves falsely diagnosing a patient with breast cancer or providing patients with a false negative result, the consequences can be devastating.
- Consequences of a false positive: A false positive breast cancer diagnosis may seem like a situation where it's better to be safe than sorry. But if someone is diagnosed with and treated for cancer unnecessarily, they can suffer physical and emotional harm. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can destroy healthy tissues, while surgical procedures can disfigure the body.
- Consequences of a false negative: A false negative, or missed breast cancer diagnosis, delays treatment, which gives cancer the opportunity to spread and reach more advanced stages of disease. If breast cancer is ultimately diagnosed, patients may require more extensive and invasive treatment, and the chance of treatment success may be lower.
Proving Medical Malpractice
To prove medical malpractice in relation to a breast cancer misdiagnosis, the patient must be able to demonstrate that the treating physician made an unreasonable mistake or error. Proving this is complex, which is why it is so important for patients to work with a knowledgeable misdiagnosis lawyer.
Our Salt Lake City law firm focuses on medical malpractice, and we work with an extensive network of medical professionals who can provide testimony to show that misdiagnosis was an act of negligence. Our lawyers also gather evidence to demonstrate the full extent of misdiagnosis damages, so that our clients can be compensated for their full range of losses, which may include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC
Breast cancer misdiagnosis can negatively impact a person’s health, emotional well-being, and financial situation. It is important that medical professionals are held accountable when their neglect leads to these types of damages. To find out how the medical misdiagnosis lawyers at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, could be of assistance to you after a breast cancer misdiagnosis, contact our law firm online, or call us at (801) 335-6467.