Ovarian Cancer

Medical errors involving ovarian cancer are quite common, whether a doctor misses the obvious signs entirely or is delayed in diagnosing the disease. In some cases, a physician may make a false-positive mistake, ordering surgery on a patient that doesn’t need it. Such misdiagnoses of ovarian cancer can lead to serious injury and death, or a spread of cancer that could have been properly treated or prevented.

Pennsylvania law allows for financial compensation to a victim of misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer, and the attorneys at Cohen, Placitella, & Roth, P.C. in Philadelphia have represented many clients in recovering damages for various types of misdiagnosis mistakes.

Types of Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosis Mistakes

• Unnecessary Surgeries: A false-positive diagnosis of ovarian cancer may lead to surgeries and procedures that a patient doesn’t need. Hysterectomy is one way to treat ovarian cancer, and it’s an extreme surgery that eliminates the possibility that a patient can have children. When an unnecessary hysterectomy is performed, the patient may be emotionally devastated.
• Improper Screening: A doctor must order appropriate tests to screen for ovarian cancer and determine the stage the disease has progressed. Failure to do so may lead the cancer to spread further without treatment.
• Technology: Healthcare professionals rely on technology to a great extent in diagnosing disease, but this equipment isn’t foolproof. Machines must be updated and maintained in order for them to work properly. Defective technology may lead to a failure to detect cancer.
• There are many other ways a healthcare provider may misdiagnose ovarian cancer, including errors in reading test results, mixing up specimens, and dismissing the possibility that there are cancerous cells present.

Damages in a Cancer Misdiagnosis Case

The victim who has suffered due to an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis may be able to obtain compensation under the legal theory of medical malpractice. She may recover financially to cover past and future medical bills, as well as any lost income due to being unable to work. In addition, a plaintiff in an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis case may be eligible for compensation for the pain and suffering she endures. Often, the treatment necessary to cure the disease is more extreme and painful when it reaches more advanced stages. This suffering could have been avoided with a proper diagnosis.

In addition, a misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer can lead to emotional distress, especially for a woman who undergoes a hysterectomy to treat the disease. She may be able to recover financial compensation for this type of anguish as well.

Trust an Experienced Attorney with Your Cancer Misdiagnosis Case

Medical professionals are held to a certain standard of care in diagnosing diseases, but doctors do make mistakes in ovarian cancer misdiagnoses from time to time. When these errors cause injury to a patient, the impact can be severe for a victim and her family. It’s possible to recover compensation for your losses and suffering, but you’ll need an experienced, highly skilled attorney on your side. If you’ve sustained injuries due to a misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer, please contact the Philadelphia offices of Cohen, Placitella, & Roth, P.C. Our attorneys can answer your questions and review the details of your matter.