Pittsburgh Delayed Diagnosis of Melanoma Skin Cancer Lawyers
Skilled Medical Malpractice Lawyers Fight for Patients Who’ve Suffered Harm Due to Delayed Diagnosis of Melanoma Skin Cancer in Pittsburgh, PA
Melanoma refers to a form of skin cancer. If diagnosed early enough, melanoma is highly treatable, with the five-year survival rates for Stage IA melanoma at nearly 100 percent. Conversely, the survival rates for Stage IV melanoma can be as low as 15 percent. As a result, when a physician’s or medical provider’s negligence results in a delayed diagnosis of melanoma, it often constitutes an actionable claim of medical malpractice. This is because the longer one waits to begin treating melanoma, the more aggressive and intensive the treatment must be and the more likely it is that the disease will end up being fatal. Even those who end up surviving Stage IV melanoma often end up suffering severe and debilitating consequences of their cancer and their treatment. Delayed diagnosis of melanoma means an increased risk of injury and death for a patient.
Injured Due To A Delayed Diagnosis of Melanoma Skin Cancer And Have Questions? We Can Help, Tell Us What Happened.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a delayed diagnosis of your melanoma skin cancer, reach out to the medical malpractice lawyers of Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC to learn more about how our firm can help you through the complex factual and legal issues of a medical malpractice case, especially a delayed cancer diagnosis case. Contact us for a free initial case review today.
Why Delayed Diagnosis of Melanoma Is Caused by Medical Negligence
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in a specific type of skin cell called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, which both provides resistance to UV radiation from sunlight and causes the skin to tan from exposure to sunlight. Melanoma is one of the most virulent forms of cancer, often quickly spreading to other organs and tissues if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
Although melanoma can appear in any skin layer, it most often appears as a discolored patch or lesion on the skin. A confirmation of a melanoma diagnosis will typically require diagnostic tests, although physicians can typically make a preliminary diagnosis with a visual examination of a discoloration or lesion on the skin. Unfortunately, many general practitioners or family physicians are not trained in diagnosing melanoma from skin discolorations. These doctors should seek consultation or second opinions from specialists such as dermatologists or oncologists when patients present with discolored patches of skin or lesions. Physicians can commit negligence that leads to a delayed diagnosis of melanoma by:
- Inadequate examination of the patient
- Failure to take a full patient history
- Failing to order biopsies or other tests
- Erroneous performance of diagnostic testing by laboratory technicians
- Misinterpreting the results of diagnostic tests
- Failing to refer patients to specialized physicians
If you’ve had a medical provider commit one of the above errors or some other act that delayed the diagnosis of your melanoma, you may have a claim for medical malpractice.
Get Advice From An Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer. All You Have To Do Is Call 412-471-4300 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
The Pittsburgh Attorneys at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC Will Hold Medical Providers Accountable when Avoidable Mistakes Lead to Delayed Diagnosis of your Melanoma Skin Cancer
When you’ve been the victim of a delayed diagnosis of melanoma, you deserve to pursue financial compensation for the injuries and harm you’ve suffered due to the delayed diagnosis, including having to deal with a more advanced stage of cancer that requires more intensive and more expensive medical treatment, leaves you feeling worse due to the advanced nature of the cancer and the more aggressive nature of the treatment required, forces you out of work, and reduced the length and quality of your life.
At Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our medical malpractice attorneys fight to ensure that you receive fair and full compensation for the harm you and your family have suffered as a result of a medical provider’s negligence. Our attorneys will conduct a thorough, independent investigation of your treatment to determine whether your delayed diagnosis was the result of negligence and to identify those parties responsible for that negligence. We will aggressively pursue maximum compensation in your case either through negotiated settlement or, if necessary, by advocating your case at trial.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC Today to Speak with One of Our Pittsburgh Delayed Diagnosis Lawyers
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a delayed diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer due to the negligence of your medical providers, you may be entitled to compensation and justice for the avoidable injury, physical damages, and pain and suffering and lost quality of life that you incur as a result of the delayed diagnosis. Contact the Pittsburgh delayed diagnosis attorneys of Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC today to set up a free, no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your legal rights and options and to learn more about how our firm can help you pursue your delayed diagnosis claim.
Frequently Asked Questions about Delayed Diagnosis of Melanoma Skin Cancer in Pittsburgh, PA
If you’ve received a delayed diagnosis of melanoma due to your health care providers’ negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for damages flowing from the delayed diagnosis, such as additional treatments that you have had to undergo due to the more advanced condition of your melanoma, additional lost wages and earning potential from time missed from work during your treatment, and additional pain and suffering and lost quality of life due to the more advanced nature of your melanoma skin cancer.
If you have a loved one who passed away from melanoma that was not timely diagnosed due to his or her health care providers’ negligence, you and your family may be entitled to file a wrongful death suit against those medical providers for damages such as funeral and burial costs, the loss of your loved one’s financial contributions to your family, and the loss of your loved one’s companionship, care, guidance, advice, and society.