Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. But at the same time, it is one of the most commonly overlooked. Continue reading to learn what happens if your doctor makes a failure to diagnose skin cancer and how an experienced New York City diagnosis error attorney at Mark Bodner, P.C. can help you attain the justice you deserve.
What are the effects of my doctor misdiagnosing my skin cancer?
Notably, nearly all forms of skin cancer may be curable. Though, a full recovery is only possible if it is treated before it has a chance to spread. This is why early detection is pivotal.
With that being said, if your doctor misdiagnosed your skin cancer or otherwise failed to diagnose it promptly, then you may be suffering as a result. Examples of such suffering are as follows:
- You may have to undergo invasive procedures that will just add to your recovery time.
- You may experience a decreased chance of surviving this cancer.
- You may experience an increase in medical bills.
- You may experience an increased time away from work.
- You may experience a significantly diminished quality of life.
- You and your loved ones may experience an increased emotional toll.
What do I have to prove for my medical malpractice lawsuit?
Simply put, you should consider a medical malpractice lawsuit if you experienced suffering after your skin cancer was left misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for far too long. For this claim, you will have to present enough evidence that supports the following statements as true:
- You were a doctor’s patient, and thus they owed you a duty of care.
- Your doctor breached their duty of care, as they misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose your skin cancer promptly.
- Your doctor fell below the standard of care, as another reasonable and qualified physician would not have made this mistake.
- Your doctor’s negligence caused you to incur significant damages, as your cancer progressed, spread, or otherwise harmed you further.
For this, it is important to record the dates of all your surgeries, treatments, and therapies. What’s more, you should keep a record of all your medical documents, medical bills, doctor’s notes, prescription medications, handicap equipment, etc.
In addition, you must bring forward your medical malpractice lawsuit within New York State’s statute of limitations. This deadline is known to be 2.5 years from the date the malpractice occurred. This date may be the day on which you scheduled your initial appointment with your doctor. However, there may be exceptions that shorten or extend this window of opportunity.
In the end, you will want to take legal action before it is too late. So do not hesitate to speak with a skilled New York City medical malpractice attorney. We await your phone call.