Savannah Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
A client-focused Savannah cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could help if you or a loved one suffered harm due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose a medical condition properly. Misdiagnosis of cancer and other serious conditions causes unnecessary suffering and could lead to death, especially when failure to properly recognize a cancer allows it to progress and spread.
When that happens, the medical professional responsible should be required to shoulder some of the responsibility for the consequences. A malpractice attorney with an in-house doctor ready to assist with medical consultations could help you pursue the compensation needed for you to move forward from a serious injury.
Medical Mistakes and Misdiagnosis
If a healthcare professional fails to behave in accordance with accepted medical standards, that failure may be considered medical malpractice if it causes a patient to suffer harm. In the case of malpractice involving failure to diagnose cancer, the harm may be exceptionally great, since any lost opportunity to treat cancer early on often makes a tremendous difference in the patient’s outcome.
For example, in certain cases doctors may fail to order adequate tests, particularly if a patient is young and does not fit the statistical profile for a type of cancer. However, medical standards often dictate that tests should be performed when patients report certain symptoms, they have a family history of cancer, or when other factors indicate cancer could be present. Failure to perform tests could provide grounds for liability if a reasonable physician would have ordered such tests in the same circumstances.
Often, a Savannah cancer misdiagnosis attorney may reach out to medical experts to determine what the reasonable standard of care would be, as well as so said experts can help show how the failure to meet that standard harmed a patient. After obtaining the opinion of a medical professional, a qualified lawyer could then present this information to a court using cutting-edge technology.
Statute of Limitations
In every action to recover compensation for an injury caused by the negligence of another, the state limits the amount of time in which a harmed party may file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations establishes this limit, and a dedicated cancer misdiagnosis lawyer could help a victim of a doctor’s negligence in Savannah meet these standards.
For cancer misdiagnosis cases, the applicable limit is found in O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71. In most cases, the claim must be filed “within two years after the date on which an injury or death arising from a negligent or wrongful act or omission occurred.”
However, in situations where the harm caused by failure to diagnose is not readily apparent, the start of the limitation period may be extended.
Compensation Available After a Misdiagnosis of Cancer
A misdiagnosis of cancer may result in many different consequences. Although no amount of monetary compensation could make up for the treatment opportunities lost, it could help offset some effects and provide assistance to meet future needs.
Those injured due to misdiagnosis may receive compensation for a variety of factors resulting from the error. If the misdiagnosis causes death, then family members may be entitled to recover on a deceased person’s behalf. Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages could include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Mental anguish,
- Medical bills,
- Lost wages, and/or
- Modifications to the home.
Compensation for these factors may be available regardless of whether a claim is settled through settlement or proceeds to trial.
Contact a Savannah Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney
Although state law gives misdiagnosed patients up to two years to file a claim, it is not a good idea to delay before contacting an attorney. You would likely need to obtain a medical affidavit before filing a claim, as well as evidence to support the claim, both of which could take considerable time.
The sooner you begin working with a Savannah cancer misdiagnosis lawyer, the sooner your legal advocate could begin preparing evidence to demonstrate a showing of negligence. For a free case evaluation to learn how a cancer misdiagnosis attorney could help you pursue compensation to provide for future needs, call today.
