Compensation claims for misdiagnosis and delay in diagnosis of cancer
Most cancers are initially recognised either from symptoms in a patient upon presentation to a GP, or through screening. Neither of these lead to a definitive diagnosis and would usually require referral to a specialist and further investigations such as MRI or CT scans.
Cancer symptoms can be divided roughly into three groups:
- local symptoms - unusual lumps or swelling, haemorrhage (bleeding), pain and/or ulceration. Compression of surrounding tissues may cause symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing the eyes and skin)
- symptoms of metastasis (spreading) – enlarged lymph nodes, cough and haemoptysis, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), bone pain, fracture of affected bones and neurological symptoms. Although advanced cancer may cause pain, it is not often the first symptom
- systemic symptoms – weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue and cachexia (wasting), excessive sweating (night sweats), anaemia and specific paraneoplastic phenomenon i.e. specific conditions resulting from an active cancer, such as thrombosis or hormonal changes.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) have drafted various guidelines for GPs to assist in determining which non specific symptoms warrant referral for further investigation. Failure to comply with those guidelines is potentially indicative of negligence.
Failure on the part of a GP to recognise potential symptoms of cancer and refer the patient to an appropriate specialist can have devastating affects on the patient in terms of both short term and long term condition and prognosis.
Failure on the part of a hospital doctor to investigate symptoms upon referral from a GP or screening process can lead to a significant delay in diagnosis and harm the patient’s chances of making a full recovery or even reduce the length of survival time. MRI or CT scans are readily available in most hospitals and if not there the hospital doctor has the ability to refer a patient to another hospital or facility in order to these necessary investigations to be undertaken.
Guidelines sometimes require referral of patients to tertiary centres, where there is expertise in particular types of cancer, such as sarcoma.
Helping you make a claim
If a medical professional has failed to diagnose symptoms of cancer or arrange appropriate investigations, you may be able to make a claim against them.
Making a medical negligence claim
For free, expert advice on making a medical negligence claim click here or call us free on 0800 0382 382. We are available to take your call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
If you want to provide some details to us in advance, why not let us assess your claim now.
