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The cost of a failure to diagnose cancer is often a human life

On Behalf of | Oct 16, 2017 | Failure To Diagnose

When Massachusetts doctors fail to promptly diagnose an illness, it may result in issues like a delayed recovery or unnecessary medical tests. A failure to diagnose cancer, though, often comes at a much higher cost: that of human life. When health care professionals do not accurately diagnose cancer in a timely manner, it can mean a delay in life-saving treatments until the cancer has progressed to such a stage that it is already too late.

Such a sad incident allegedly occurred in another state, and a lawsuit is attempting to hold several parties responsible. The recently filed complaint accuses NorthShore Evanston Hospital, NorthShore University Health System and NorthShore Kellogg Cancer Center Inc. of negligence in a cancer diagnosis. The lawsuit, which also lists three doctors as defendants, was filed by two individuals and an independent estate administrator on behalf of the now-deceased patient.

The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to properly diagnose the patient’s parotid cancer in a timely manner, and thus failed to provide proper medical care. The plaintiffs seek to hold the defendants responsible for this alleged failure to properly diagnose the cancer as well as their failure to provide necessary treatments, as they claim this led to the patient’s untimely death. They seek a judgment against the defendant in excess of $50,000 as well as any further relief as the court deems fit, in addition to all resultant medical expenses.

Any residents of Massachusetts who have themselves similarly suffered or lost a loved one due to a health care professional’s failure to diagnose cancer should know that they have the right to seek professional legal counsel. An attorney with experience in medical malpractice cases would be able to review the case and offer advice and ongoing legal support if negligence or malpractice was apparent on the part of the doctors or surgeons involved. In a successfully litigated case, monetary damages awarded can be used toward medical – or funeral – costs, pain and suffering, and other legally recognized expenses.

Source: cookcountyrecord.com, “NorthShore University Health System Inc., others allegedly failed to timely diagnose cancer“, Louie Torres, Oct. 11, 2017