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Failure to Diagnose Cancer and Your Legal Options (Part B)

Damages Awarded For Failure to Diagnose Cancer

In addition to medical complications that will result when there is a failure to diagnose cancer, you may also suffer from economic and non-economic hardships that can be addressed in your Illinois medical malpractice claim.

Filing an Illinois medical malpractice claim may enable you to get the compensation you deserve, which may account for:

• lost wages (both present and future);
• medical expenses (both present and future);
• other medical related costs; and
• pain, suffering, and mental anguish.

Fortunately, more and more medical professionals are using screening tests to help detect and diagnose cancer in the early phase, which may reduce the need for medical malpractice claims from a failure to diagnose cancer. However, the fact that these screening tests are becoming more commonplace may also have standard of care implications for those physicians that fail to order or misread these vital tests.

Ways to Avoid a Failure to Diagnose Cancer: Testing Procedures

Some common procedures used to aid an early cancer diagnosis include:

• Pap smears - used to detect cervical cancer in females over 40;
• Mammograms - used to detect breast cancer; and
• Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy - used to detent cancer in the rectum or colon.

Ways to Avoid a Failure to Diagnose Cancer: Early Warning Signs

While the development of cancer usually occurs sporadically, there are some common symptoms that are often associated with the presence of cancerous cells. The list below describes some of these signs, but it is not comprehensive as these signs may be symptoms of other ailments.

Some of the common warning signs of cancer include, but are not limited to:

• bowel or bladder habit changes;
• uncommon bleeding;
• indigestion or difficulty swallowing;
• incessant cough; and
• lump or thickening in parts of the body.

Modern medical technology coupled with observation of cancer symptoms can drastically reduce failure to diagnose cancer. Even so, failure to diagnose cancer still happens. If your physical has failed to diagnose your cancer, your health and life can hang in the balance. The experience of a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer will prove invaluable in your case, and will fully explain your legal options for seeking compensation.

When to Contact a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you've suffered injuries due to a physician's negligence or fault, then a Chicago personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file a medical malpractice claim. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation - 312-263-1080.

The Law Offices of
Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
5215 Old Orchard Road
Suite 710
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 312.263.1080
Fax: 312.263.0153

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