While New Jersey is ranked #50 in the country for prostate cancer deaths, it is ranked number one for prostate cancer occurrences. If you or a loved one was misdiagnosed or experienced a delayed prostate cancer diagnosis, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Contact our New Jersey prostate cancer misdiagnosis attorneys to discuss your legal rights and options.
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is abnormal cancerous cells that grow in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system. It can arise in various forms, but most commonly, it is adenocarcinoma, a cancer occurring in glandular tissues. Other types of prostate cancer include
- Sarcomas,
- Neuroendocrine tumors,
- Small cell carcinoma, and
- Transitional cell carcinoma.
No matter the type, prostate cancer must be caught early to be successfully treated.
How is Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosed?
Medical malpractice claims involving prostate cancer usually involve one of three scenarios:
- Misdiagnosis. A misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional incorrectly diagnoses another condition, allowing the prostate cancer cells to continue to multiply. A prostate cancer misdiagnosis can lead to harmful and unnecessary chemotherapy treatment, surgery, and other crippling consequences.
- Failure to diagnose. Equally as dangerous is a doctor failing to identify prostate cancer. This can occur when a doctor fails to order testing, misinterprets results, or disregards symptoms.
- Delayed diagnosis. Even if the doctor correctly diagnoses your prostate cancer, if there is a delay in doing so, this can also be medical malpractice. A delayed diagnosis can occur from a delay in ordering a biopsy or referral, reading test results, or following up with the patient.
If you experienced a misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or an outright failure to identify prostate cancer, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim against the doctor or medical professional responsible for the error.
Misdiagnosing Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
While there are generally some distinct symptoms of prostate cancer, it is also possible to be asymptomatic until the cancer has reached advanced stages. However, if you expressed concern for symptoms you were experiencing and your doctor did not order further testing, failed to give you a referral, or disregarded or downplayed your concerns, you may have a misdiagnosis claim.
Common symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Frequent urination,
- Pain or burning during urination,
- Blood in the urine,
- Weak or interrupted flow,
- Erectile dysfunction,
- Painful ejaculation, and
- Pain in your torso region.
Remember, every situation is unique, and it is possible to experience one or multiple symptoms simultaneously or at different times. If your medical professional ignored your symptoms, they may have let the cancer cells grow, multiply, and spread to other parts of the body. A once-treatable cancer could quickly worsen or even turn deadly.
It is possible your doctor attributed these symptoms to another condition, especially if you have a specific history of an illness. Still, after hearing these symptoms, it should almost always trigger your doctor to screen for prostate cancer.
Complications and Consequences from a Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
The consequences of failing to identify and treat prostate cancer quickly can vary in severity depending on the specific circumstances. For instance, if the misdiagnosis was caught rapidly and remedied, the complications may be minor and treatable, but if the doctor failed to diagnose it for many months, the consequences could be irreparable.
Some of the complications and consequences that can arise from a delayed or misdiagnosis include:
- Severe pain,
- Loss of urinary function,
- Loss of sexual function,
- Harm to other organs,
- Metastasis,
- Emotional turmoil,
- Permanent impairments, and
- Premature death.
The potential harm from a misdiagnosis can be exponential. Our NJ prostate cancer misdiagnosis attorneys can help you and your family seek justice and accountability.
Our New Jersey Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers Will Help You Prove Your Case
Proving a malpractice case is easier said than done. Medical malpractice lawsuits are often complex, requiring medical experts, extensive discovery, and an intricate knowledge of the law.
Generally, for a medical malpractice plaintiff to be successful, you must prove:
- Your doctor deviated from the accepted standard of medical care,
- The failure to adhere to accepted medical practices caused you harm, and
- You suffered financial damages and consequences as a result.
In other words, if your doctor failed to exercise reasonable care that another doctor under similar circumstances would have, they may have deviated from the accepted standard of medicine, and you may be entitled to damages. Potential damages in a misdiagnosis case can include medical costs, future medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.
A seasoned New Jersey prostate cancer misdiagnosis lawyer will help you investigate the claim, file your case, negotiate a significant settlement, or take your case to trial if necessary.
NJ Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers
At O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, we have received some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in the state. We will stop at nothing to get you the justice and compensation you deserve while supporting you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule a no-cost consultation with our team of NJ prostate cancer misdiagnosis lawyers.
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