New Jersey Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorneys

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosed Lung Cancer Lawsuits

The CDC reports that lung cancer is the third most common cancer affecting people in the USA. The cancer rate in New Jersey is among the highest in the nation. While lung cancer is a very frightening and potentially deadly disease, treatments performed early in the progress of the disease can be life-saving. When a medical doctor fails to diagnose lung cancer, or misdiagnoses the illness, treatment is delayed, and the cancer is allowed to progress, with devastating consequences.

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Failure to Diagnose vs Misdiagnosis

A failure to diagnose involves not diagnosing the condition at all, whether to failing to test for it, or assuming the symptoms did warrant testing. A misdiagnosis involves attributing the symptoms to another illness or condition, rather than lung cancer, and treating that condition. Either problem can open the door to the right to file a medical malpractice claim.

Failure to Diagnose Lung Cancer

A doctor may have ordered tests, but attributed the result to another condition entirely, such as deciding a lung lesion was a granuloma, rather than carcinoma. Other factors that could lead to a failure to diagnose include:

• Misreading test results (as above)
• Failing to order proper tests
• Failed to order a lung biopsy
• Ignored the lung cancer symptoms the patient presented

Misdiagnosing Lung Cancer

A doctor may fail to diagnose lung cancer, even if a patient is presenting the known symptoms of the disease. In these cases, the patient is treated for another condition, and the lung cancer is left to continue to advance, with devastating consequences. The reasons lung cancer may be misdiagnosed include:

• Decided the symptoms were related to another condition (bronchitis, etc.)
• Failed to order the right tests to identify cancer, or any tests at all.
• Misread the results of a biopsy.
• Failed to correctly analyze lab tests.

Complications from Misdiagnosed or Undiagnosed Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a deadly form of cancer and must be treated aggressively if the patient has the hope of surviving. When left untreated, the complications may include:

• Excess fluid around lungs
• Shortness of breath
• Severe pain
• Metastasis (cancer spreads to other body areas)
• Heart blockages
• Spinal cord compression leading to physical impairments
• Swollen face and neck
• Blurred vision, severe headaches
• Blood clots
• Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels)
• Death

Is it Malpractice?

Doctors make errors and are human. However, when a medical professional fails to administer the “accepted medical standard of care,” it may be malpractice. The accepted medical standard of care is the level of care that would be administered by another trained doctor with a similar background would have provided if presented with the same symptoms. If your doctor failed to meet this standard of care, you have a right to seek compensation for all damages, including economic losses such as the cost of treatment, hospitalization, lost income from work, along with non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and emotional anguish.

Who is Liable?

The liable parties named in a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose lung cancer case may include the doctor, radiologist, lab personnel, hospital, clinic owner, or others. To determine the liable parties, seek assistance from an attorney who will review all relevant facts in your case to determine exactly what led to the failure to identify lung cancer.

You Need a Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice cases, including those involving a failure to diagnose lung cancer or misdiagnosing lung cancer in New Jersey, require the assistance of a talented lawyer. Extensive supporting evidence necessary, along with witnesses and the testimony of medical experts. This process is complex and requires experience, knowledge, and legal skill – along with a personal dedication to you and your case. At Simonson Goodman Platzer PC, we are profoundly dedicated to the pursuit of justice and full compensation in cases of medical malpractice and have recovered over $200 million to date, with favorable outcomes in 98% of our cases.

Contact Simonson Goodman Platzer PC today at (800) 817-5029 for assistance.