When a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, the consequences can be devastating for patients and their families. If a doctor misdiagnosed your (or a loved one’s) cancer, it will be important for you to understand what happens—or what should happen—next.
A doctor misdiagnoses cancer when they fail to identify warning signs, overlook test results, or mistake one condition for another. In some cases, this leads to unnecessary treatments, while in others, it allows the disease to progress unchecked. Either outcome can have life-altering effects, from delayed treatment and emotional distress to lost opportunities for recovery. Patients trust doctors to recognize the signs of serious illness, and when that trust is broken, the consequences can be catastrophic, not only medically, but personally and financially as well.
Here is some important information from the medical malpractice lawyers at Coplan + Crane:
After a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, it is up to you to take action and protect your rights. If you are facing the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of a cancer misdiagnosis, it is up to you to seek the justice you and your family deserve.
Taking action in this scenario starts with talking to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to find out if you have grounds to file a claim. If a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for the following losses:
The financial and emotional costs that arise when a doctor misdiagnoses cancer can be overwhelming. As a result, even if you aren’t necessarily interested in holding your (or your loved one’s) doctor accountable, it is still important that you speak with a lawyer about taking legal action. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will be able to assess the financial and non-financial damages you are entitled to recover, and then you can use this information to decide whether it is worth moving forward.
When a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, your attorney will guide you through each step of the medical malpractice process. But, there are points at which you will need to be involved, and you may need to make a decision about whether to accept a settlement if an offer is on the table.
Generally speaking, in Illinois, the steps involved in filing a medical malpractice claim for a cancer misdiagnosis include:
To pursue a claim after a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, you will need documentation supporting the error and its effects. Your lawyer will be able to assist with gathering the documentation needed, and then your lawyer can review this documentation to determine if a malpractice claim is warranted.
If a malpractice claim is warranted, your lawyer will file a Notice of Intent with the at-fault healthcare provider’s insurance company. This step is required under Illinois law, and it formally starts the claims process.
At this stage, your lawyer will begin the process of documenting the losses you are entitled to recover. While your (or your loved one’s) medical records will be key forms of documentation, your lawyer will need to gather a variety of other forms of documentation as well.
Once your lawyer has the documentation needed to prove the financial and non-financial costs of your (or your loved one’s) cancer misdiagnosis, your lawyer will use the documentation to show exactly how the doctor misdiagnosed cancer and the resulting harm. While there are no guarantees, most successful medical malpractice claims settle through the insurance claims process without going to court.
If a settlement offer is on the table, your lawyer will help you decide whether the offer represents “just compensation” for your (or your loved one’s) cancer misdiagnosis. If it does, you can accept the offer and begin the process of moving on. If it doesn’t, you can rely on your lawyer to continue fighting for justice on your behalf.
If a doctor misdiagnoses cancer and you or your loved one suffers as a result, contact Coplan + Crane for a free case review. During this initial consultation, we will take time to listen to your side of the story, assess the merits of your claim, and explain your rights and legal options. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling medical malpractice cases, and we are proud of our record of success.
Contact the Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Coplan + Crane today online or at (312) 982-0588 for a FREE case evaluation. We help clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas. We handle medical malpractice claims on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.
