Cancer Lawyers in Chicago

Chicago Wrong or Delayed Diagnosis Lawyers

In Chicago, there are 464.17 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people. Cancer patients trust doctors for an accurate, timely diagnosis when pursuing life-saving treatment. While most cancer patients receive an accurate diagnosis with time for treatment, a misdiagnosis can still occur. Doctors misdiagnose cancer at a rate of 11.1% across all types of cancers.

When it comes to cancer, there is no tolerance for error. You and your family deserve justice when a late or incorrect diagnosis impacts your health. The Law Offices of Argionis & Associates will represent you in the event of cancer misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

What Is Considered a Cancer Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis?

Cancer misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are medical mistakes that a doctor could make. A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor determines a tumor, symptom or condition indicates cancer when cancer is not present. Diagnosing the wrong form of cancer could also constitute a misdiagnosis. Delayed cancer diagnosis occurs when a doctor fails to recognize and diagnose cancer during initial assessments. The patient eventually receives a diagnosis, but the cancer has more time to grow before treatment.

The Chicago judicial system may consider wrongful diagnosis or delayed diagnosis to be medical malpractice, which is when a medical professional’s actions fall short of an acceptable standard of care.

Common Causes of a Wrong or Delayed Cancer Diagnosis

An incorrect or late cancer diagnosis often results from health care provider mistakes. More than 75% of misdiagnosis cases occur when the medical staff commits a clinical judgment error. A doctor may take too long to order a test or order the wrong type — mistakes that account for 51% of clinical judgment errors. In 37% of these cases, patients are left waiting for a consultation or referral. They lose time awaiting the doctor’s determination or recommendation.

Consequences of Delayed or Misdiagnosed Cancer

Both the misdiagnosis of and failure to diagnose cancer can have devastating impacts on patients.

An incorrectly diagnosed cancer patient may undergo grueling chemo and radiation treatments that can cause uncomfortable side effects and weaken the immune system.

In some cases, these patients have unneeded surgeries that can cause permanent health and mobility changes. Some young women who are misdiagnosed with cervical, ovarian or other cancers undergo hysterectomies, which prevent them from ever having children of their own.

In addition, patients who have been misdiagnosed lose time at work, causing financial strain that compounds with substantial medical bills.

Misdiagnosis can also cause mental health dilemmas when patients fret over the implications of a serious disease.

A delayed diagnosis could keep a patient from receiving vital treatment during the time when the prognosis would be the most favorable. Their cancer may spread, reducing their chances of survival and potentially causing years of pain that the doctor could have prevented.

In both cases, you may require additional expensive medical care to recover lost time or resolve complications from incorrect treatments.

Establishing a Medical Malpractice Case for Delayed or Misdiagnosed Cancer

Legal professionals do extensive work to build medical malpractice cases. From researching laws and prior cases to following precise legal procedures, there are many steps involved. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Argionis & Associates advocate for victims of cancer misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis by:

• Analyzing the situation to validate the claim and gather useful facts.
• Documenting damages that resulted from the incorrect or late diagnosis.
• Collecting medical records and other documents containing evidence of an incorrect or late diagnosis.
• Organizing testimonies from health care experts knowledgeable in the matter.
• Filing a cancer misdiagnosis or late diagnosis lawsuit.
• Negotiating settlements with health care organizations and their insurance companies.

What to Do If You’ve Received a Late or Wrong Cancer Diagnosis in Chicago

If you’re misdiagnosed in Chicago, preserving your health is the top priority — pursue a second medical opinion and treatment as soon as possible. Then, contact a Chicago wrong diagnosis attorney to begin working toward a just settlement. An attorney can assess your situation and detail your legal options. You may be eligible for compensation to address the lost time at work and expensive medical bills incurred after you received a delayed or incorrect cancer diagnosis.

Consult Our Experienced Chicago Wrong Diagnosis Lawyers

The Law Offices of Argionis & Associates provides legal services for victims of cancer misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis in Chicago. Our attorneys have extensive experience with medical malpractice cases in state and federal courts. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay legal costs only if and when we win money for you at trial or through a settlement.

We can offer a free consultation in our offices or travel to your location for a private meeting. Contact us today for caring and professional legal representation.