A cancer diagnosis will change your life in an instant. No matter the type or severity, it is critical to get the right diagnosis as soon as possible as this will determine treatment type and the effectiveness of your treatment. It can be devastating to learn that you did not receive the correct diagnosis initially, and now you are left wondering what this means for your long-term prognosis.
How you move forward from here is critical. Obviously, you need the right diagnosis so you can get on the right treatment plan. It is also possible you have legal options available to you as a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis could be a result of medical negligence of some kind. You may have the choice to move forward with a medical malpractice claim if this caused you physical, financial and emotional harm.
First steps
Accurately diagnosing cancer is difficult. Doctors are responsible for running the right kind of tests and making sure they do everything possible to diagnose you correctly. If you suspect your doctor is wrong about your cancer or other aspects of your care, it may be necessary to get a second opinion. This is prudent in the following situations:
- You do not think the doctor ran enough tests.
- You do not think your doctor is listening to your concerns.
- You do not think you are being offered all available treatment options.
- You think your doctor could be underestimating the seriousness of your type of cancer.
You should feel confident in the type of care you receive. If you get poor care, it is more than just an inconvenience. It can directly affect how well your treatment works and your overall health, as well as your life expectancy. A misdiagnosis could be a failure of the doctor to provide care that meets certain expectations.
What if this happens to you?
If you were affected by a missed diagnosis of cancer, you do not have to stay silent. If you think it is the result of poor-quality care, negligence or lack of concern from your care provider, you could have grounds for a civil claim. The Oregon civil justice system provides victims of medical malpractice the ability to recoup their losses and hold liable parties accountable for their pain and suffering.