FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE CERVICAL CANCER

Most women are relying on the use of PAP smears and gynecological examinations to make sure that they are not developing cancer of the cervix. Most cancers of the cervix are detectable by changes seen on cells collected from PAP smears. These cells are sent to laboratories for analysis and the reports are sent back to the treating physicians.
If these specimens are misread by a technician or a machine, it is possible that the physican will get mistaken information concenring the degree of abnormality of the the PAP smear specimen. When this occurs, the patient is placed at risk because a growing cancer may remain undetected.
In terms of overall patient safety, it is not acceptable for abnormal PAP smears to be misread. Public safety in heathcare demands that competent persons review these slides and make the correct diagnosis.

If you have such a situation where a cervical cancer diagnosis has come to late, the case can be analyzed for an standard of care breaches.

Comments

[Failure to Diagnose Compensation Claim]

The failure of a physician to diagnose a disease or medical condition when having the skill to do so constitutes negligence, and the victim may be entitled to make a “failure to diagnose” compensation claim. Medical malpractice can occur from an inappropriate action taken by a medical practitioner – or by the lack of any action at all. The first action you should take when you feel that there has been a failure to diagnose is to get a second medical opinion.