Cancer is already difficult to deal with in the best of circumstances, but the negligence of a healthcare professional can cause significant harm and even death. If your cancer was misdiagnosed due to negligence, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. The Boca Raton medical malpractice lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. are here to help you seek justice for the injuries and losses you have suffered.
Since 1976, our team has fought on behalf of Floridians and recovered more than $500 million in settlements and verdicts. Our Boca Raton cancer misdiagnosis lawyers are ready to put up a fight and hold negligent parties liable for their actions. Please call our firm now to receive a free consultation. Se habla español.
What a Lawyer Can Do for a Victim of a Negligent Cancer Misdiagnosis
No one ever expects to need the help of a malpractice law firm. Patients trust doctors, nurses, laboratories, and other healthcare professionals or facilities to provide excellent care, but a single act of negligence can lead to significant emotional, physical, and financial hardship. The team at Freidin Brown, P.A. understands just how overwhelming these situations can be for patients, and we are here to protect your rights and your future.
Our team has consistently delivered quality legal care and satisfactory results by leveraging our firm’s resources, experiences, and knowledge of malpractice law in every case. If you hire our firm, you can expect us to:
- Investigate your claim of malpractice and collect evidence of harm and losses
- Determine the liability of the parties involved
- Retain medical professionals who can help us establish the standard of care for your situation
- Hire experts, including life care planners and economists, who can help us assess the extent of your losses
- Manage all communications with insurers and at-fault parties
- Conduct settlement negotiations to seek a settlement or represent you at trial to secure a verdict that compensates you for your losses
- Assign at least two lawyers to your case to oversee planning and strategy sessions
With two Board Certified trial attorneys and over 100 years of combined experience, we are well-prepared to handle your claim from start to finish.
Need Legal Support for a Cancer Misdiagnosis? Talk to a Boca Raton Attorney for Free!
When Does a Cancer Misdiagnosis Qualify as Malpractice?
Although patients reasonably expect accurate diagnoses, not every error constitutes negligence. When providers are negligent, they rarely admit fault and may argue that their actions met professional standards. They may even try to push responsibility onto patients or other providers.
When evaluating these cases, it is our job to investigate claims and determine whether the case meets the legal criteria for medical malpractice. This means we must show:
- The provider owed you a duty of care.
- The provider’s care did not meet the standard of care expected of the profession.
- The actions (or inactions) of one or more providers directly caused the missed, delayed, or incorrect diagnosis.
- You suffered losses.
To establish the applicable standard of care, we consult with qualified medical professionals who can help us define what a reasonable provider would have done under similar circumstances.
What Are Examples of Negligence That Can Cause a Cancer Misdiagnosis?
A negligent cancer misdiagnosis may result in a missed diagnosis altogether or a delay in receiving the correct one. Patients could also receive inaccurate results that resulted in false positives or false negatives. In other cases, the provider may have diagnosed cancer but failed to accurately determine its stage.
This negligence is often caused by:
- Failing to order scans, bloodwork, and other tests
- Delaying or denying referrals to specialists
- Misreading test results or dismissing abnormal results
- Failing to deliver test results or follow up with patients
- Failing to recognize or treat patient symptoms
Several parties in Boca Raton whose negligence may contribute to a cancer misdiagnosis include:
- Oncologists and other specialists, such as a gastroenterologist
- Primary care providers
- Radiologists
- Pathologists
- Laboratories
- Imaging centers
- Nurses
We can even hold hospitals and medical facilities, such as Boca Raton Regional Hospital, liable for negligent facility practices or for the negligence of their employees. No matter how tough your case may seem, Freidin Brown, P.A. is ready to protect your right to compensation. Call our firm for a free consultation today.
We Help Families Who Suffered Medical Malpractice
You Deserve Compensation for Your Cancer Misdiagnosis
Negligence by a Boca Raton medical provider can lead to significant and unnecessary hardships. Misdiagnosing cancer can mean that you have lost valuable treatment time, and the disease may progress further than it should have. A misdiagnosis could have even meant the difference between life and death.
This injustice should be addressed, and our Boca Raton lawyers can help you seek compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Loss of earning potential
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Out-of-pocket expenses
You may have additional losses not listed above. Our team will make sure to seek the full extent of your losses.
Let Our Firm Hold Boca Raton Providers Accountable for Your Cancer Misdiagnosis
We understand that you are going through a difficult time right now. You deserve a team that will prioritize your needs and pursue a settlement or verdict that fairly compensates you and your family for everything your family has endured due to a cancer misdiagnosis.
When a Boca Raton provider or medical facility is negligent, call Freidin Brown, P.A. Our team is here to listen to your story and advocate for you. Please call us 24/7 for a free case evaluation.
FAQs for Our Boca Raton Misdiagnosis Lawyers
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims?
Yes. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, there is a legal deadline for filing medical malpractice lawsuits. Filing your claim after the statute of limitations has expired may bar you from seeking compensation altogether.
However, various circumstances, including presuit requirements, can affect this timeframe. Determining how long you have to act, especially in a complex case like a cancer misdiagnosis, can be difficult without the guidance of an experienced malpractice attorney.
The sooner you contact our team, the sooner we can begin building your case and safeguarding your right to pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Is My Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim Worth?
There is no way to determine the average for cancer misdiagnosis settlements or even estimate the value of an individual claim without thoroughly investigating the individual circumstances and assessing the victim’s specific losses. Some factors that can impact your settlement or verdict’s value include:
- The severity of your injuries caused by the misdiagnosis
- The financial losses associated with your misdiagnosis, including medical expenses and lost income
- Your age and life expectancy
- The strength of the available evidence
- The degree of fault of the medical provider(s)
These and other factors play a crucial role in building a strong case for the compensation you deserve.
Can I Sue if My Loved One Died Due to Cancer Misdiagnosis?
Yes, your family may be able to pursue a wrongful death action if a negligent cancer misdiagnosis took the life of your loved one. Under Florida Statutes § 768.20, the deceased’s personal representative must bring the suit, and this party must identify all beneficiaries of the suit.
Beneficiaries are typically surviving family members and can include the deceased’s spouse, children, and, in limited circumstances, parents.
Some of the damages we could pursue include:
- Medical bills of the deceased
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of companionship and protection for spouses
- Loss of parental companionship, instruction, and guidance for children of the deceased
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earnings and support
The devastating nature of your loss and the complexities of cancer malpractice make these cases especially difficult to handle, but our attorneys are ready to fight for justice.
What Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer for My Malpractice Case?
The cost of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit can be significant, and many victims may feel as though they have no options for seeking justice. However, if you work with Freidin Brown, P.A., our firm fronts these fees and costs for you, and we are only reimbursed if we make a recovery on your behalf. Our firm takes cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us if we win.
Our team is paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict we obtain for you, and you owe us nothing if we do not win. This payment structure allows our firm to use the full extent of our resources on your behalf to build a strong case for compensation.
What Should I Do If I Suspect I Was Misdiagnosed With Cancer?
As soon as you suspect a cancer misdiagnosis, you should seek a second medical opinion, preferably with a provider in a different office or facility. Make sure you explain your concerns and symptoms to your new provider and discuss any treatment you may have already undergone. You can request your medical records and have them sent to the new office if they don’t already have access to them.
Once you’ve chosen a new provider, request your medical records and ensure they receive them. From there, make sure to advocate for yourself by asking for additional or follow-up tests to help determine the cause of your symptoms. A family member or friend who knows what you are going through can help advocate for you during these appointments, if necessary.
To help you stay organized throughout your medical journey, consider keeping a journal of symptoms, appointments, and other care notes. If you suspect negligence, reach out to our firm. Our team can evaluate your case and begin building your claim right away.
