Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer in Chicago
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), one in five Americans will have skin cancer in their lifetimes. Fortunately, skin cancer has a high survival rate when caught early. But the consequences of a cancer misdiagnosis can be fatal.
Skin cancer develops when the DNA in your skin cells mutates, and the abnormal cells start reproducing. The mutated cells attack the healthy cells, causing severe physical complications if undiagnosed and untreated. Early diagnosis can prevent further spread of skin cancer and help you survive a potentially deadly disease.
A cancer misdiagnosis may be considered medical malpractice, depending on your situation. If you had a delayed skin cancer diagnosis and missed your window for early treatment, consult a Chicago skin cancer misdiagnosis attorney at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. to learn whether you have a valid medical malpractice claim. The first consultation is free.
What is a Cancer Misdiagnosis?
A cancer misdiagnosis may occur when there is a:
- False positive, in which a doctor diagnoses you with cancer, but you have a different condition. You may start cancer treatment, which could be unnecessary and intrusive if you don’t have the disease.
- False negative, where a doctor does not diagnose cancer early on and attributes your symptoms to another health problem. If your cancer spreads, you miss out on the advantages of early treatment, and your prognosis for a full recovery worsens.
Either of these cases could be medical malpractice. A cancer misdiagnosis lawyer in Chicago can determine whether you have a claim and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
When is a Misdiagnosis Considered Medical Malpractice?
Misdiagnosed cancer becomes medical malpractice if the doctor fails to provide you with the accepted standard of care. The standard of care is the degree of care a reasonably cautious clinician should provide based on the circumstances.
Physicians are expected to evaluate patients with cancer symptoms carefully, using commonly accepted testing methods such as bloodwork, a biopsy, X-rays, or other imaging scans to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer.
To establish medical malpractice in a case of misdiagnosed cancer, your lawyer must prove the doctor deviated from the appropriate standard of care and that this substandard treatment resulted in a failure to diagnose skin cancer accurately.
Often, attorneys consult medical experts to identify whether a doctor failed to meet the expected standard of care, when it happened, and at what point the physician acted without the knowledge and skill a reasonable doctor would have used when presented with the same symptoms. Then the attorney must prove that the doctor’s failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis caused you harm.
You should not handle a medical malpractice case on your own. Medical malpractice is difficult to prove, and the burden will be on you to show that your doctor acted negligently. These cases are complicated because doctors are human and make mistakes, even with the best intentions. A Chicago cancer misdiagnosis lawyer can help you prove where the doctor crossed the line into malpractice.
Why is Skin Cancer so Commonly Misdiagnosed?
Early-stage skin cancer can resemble other innocuous skin conditions, like rashes or moles. If you have skin conditions like eczema, moles, or a propensity to get warts, your doctor may simply mistake skin cancer for something you’ve already been diagnosed with.
However, a dermatologist or other specialist may notice telltale signs of skin cancer, like an irregularly shaped, raised bump or a mole that suddenly appears and starts growing. Specialists are trained to spot indications of skin cancer and know the right tests to either confirm their suspicions or rule out cancer.
A doctor may easily misdiagnose skin cancer because:
- They based the diagnosis on your family medical history or your risk factors alone.
- They didn’t complete a full physical exam or didn’t consider your medical history.
- A primary care doctor failed to refer you to a specialist.
- A doctor failed to run the proper tests or did not order follow-up testing.
What are the Common Types of Skin Cancer?
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three primary types of skin cancer:
- Melanoma – This skin cancer can be fatal and often presents as an innocuous mole. It may be abnormally shaped and can be red, brown, pink, purple, or blue. It may also have an uneven surface.
- Squamous cell carcinoma – Often resembling a sore or a wart, squamous cell carcinoma is typically caused by sun overexposure. It may not be fatal if caught early.
- Basal cell carcinoma – This type of skin cancer appears as a rash, shiny bumps, an open sore, or pink growths, similar to skin tags. It occurs in the skin’s basal cells as an abnormal growth.
Even melanoma can be cured if treated early. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent cancer from spreading further.
What are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
Many forms of skin cancer are asymptomatic aside from the presence of the growth itself. You may notice a new mole or rash but not feel any different physically. When skin cancer spreads, though, it can cause worsening skin symptoms, such as:
- Increasing new growths on the skin, like pale bumps or new moles
- Changed appearance of existing moles
- Bleeding moles or bleeding in raised areas on the skin
- Scaly, irritated patches on the skin
Consequences of a Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis
If you don’t get an early cancer diagnosis, you may miss an important opportunity for early intervention. You may also have limited options for treatment or experience more pain and other medical complications without a correct diagnosis and treatment.
If you’re misdiagnosed, you may be stuck waiting for a second opinion for months or be unable to acquire adequate pain management to cope with your symptoms. If your condition is attributed to something else, you may be subjected to treatment you don’t need or suffer side effects from medications that aren’t providing a medical benefit.
How Can Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C Help with My Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis Case?
If you were subjected to delayed treatment for skin cancer due to a misdiagnosis, a cancer misdiagnosis lawyer from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in Chicago, Illinois can determine what your legal options could be. Call or contact us today for a free diagnosis.
