Delayed Diagnosis
Many medical malpractice claims arise when doctors or other care providers fail to follow standard procedures, and that failure causes a serious injury. The majority of malpractice cases arise from misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of diseases and illnesses such as cancer. When serious illnesses are not diagnosed quickly, the delay can cause debilitating injuries, and sometimes death.
Common causes. Not all delayed diagnoses of cancer are grounds for legal action. However, delays almost always reduce success rates in patients with cancer, and can eliminate some treatment options that are only available with early detection. Delayed cancer diagnoses are often caused by:
- Failure to identify the symptoms of disease
- Improper blood or body tissue testing
- Failure to order tests necessary to confirm or rule out disease
- Error in reading test results
- Failure to promptly refer the patient to a specialist for appropriate testing
- Failure to begin required treatment or prescribe necessary medication before disease becomes untreatable
Your legal rights. A lawsuit will never restore health or bring back a lost loved one. However, our medical malpractice attorneys feel we can help to improve the quality of medical care by holding medical professionals accountable for their actions. If you or a family member has a serious injury that you suspect resulted from a missed or delayed diagnosis, contact us to learn more about your legal rights and how to protect yourself.
Check www.cancer.org for more information about cancer diagnoses.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a mistaken or untimely diagnosis, it is important that you contact us as soon as possible to evaluate your claim. Our firm has handled cases in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and other surrounding Illinois counties. Every claim has a statute of limitations, which will bar the case if not filed before it expires.
The information provided on this website does not constitute legal advice nor does it constitute an attorney client agreement. You are not considered a client until we have accepted your case and a retainer agreement is signed. Please read our full disclaimer.
Lawyers Who Win
[An MSU article featuring Craig Manchik]
Craig Manchik, ’94, managing partner in the Chicago-based firm of Manchik & Romaker, has been arguing his position since he was a child. Manchik recently won a jury verdict of more than $1.1 million on a difficult liability case against an Illinois municipality and its police officers. He agrees that you win cases by doing a thorough and complete investigation that includes lining up appropriate experts early so they can advise you in discovery.
Manchik’s firm concentrates on medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. To him, successful litigation hinges on the ability to be a good listener. Manchik believes “you must be in a position to feel your client’s pain. You must bring forth the passion necessary to convince a jury of the wrongs that have been done to the client. If you can do that, you have a good start.”