Palm Beach County Ovarian Cancer Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Ovarian cancer can be incredibly aggressive and fatal and is considered one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Studies have uniformly indicated that early detection and treatment lead to higher rates of survival and shorter courses of treatment. Women and their doctors should be diligent in identifying symptoms and conducting medical exams, however, when a doctor fails to diagnose, treat, or misdiagnoses ovarian cancer, they may be liable for medical malpractice.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, contact a Palm Beach County ovarian cancer medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your case. If you believe your doctor or treating physician’s failure to diagnose misdiagnosis, or treatment caused you unnecessary harm, an experienced malpractice lawyer can help you find the evidence you need to seek damages.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a serious medical condition caused by cancerous cells forming on one or both of a woman’s ovaries. The American Cancer Society has indicated that the most common form of ovarian cancer is malignant epithelial ovarian tumors, which comprise 85 to 90 percent of ovarian cancer diagnosis.

However, there are several other types of ovarian cancer a woman and her doctor should be aware of and screen for including germ and stromal forms of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer can present various symptoms, though it typically does not present many symptoms in its earliest stages.

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Pelvic pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Extreme bloating
• Problems with the urinary tract
• Constant fatigue
• Constant indigestion

Understanding Medical Failures

There are several courses of treatment for ovarian cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these treatments. However, the most effective treatment is early detection. Early detection can prevent women from undergoing painful and potentially dangerous surgeries, which may include removing one or both ovaries. Individuals should speak with a Palm Beach County ovarian cancer medical malpractice lawyer if they suspect they have been subject to negligent care. Failures in ovarian cancer diagnosis include failure to conduct appropriate exams, misreading tests, failure to follow up on abnormal test results, and failure to consider a woman’s symptoms and personal history.

How Do these Failures Occur?

A doctor should conduct yearly pelvic exams, which should include a Pap smear. Other tests that a doctor should conduct, particularly when an initial test reveals irregularities include: a CA125 blood test, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and laparoscopic evaluations. Even if a doctor orders the appropriate exams and tests, if a doctor, radiologist, pathologist, or lab technician misread films and tests, it can lead to missing a critical treatment window causing a woman unnecessary harm.

It may be surprising to learn that many ovarian cancer medical malpractice cases result from doctors failing to follow up with women regarding irregularities in their test results. While the early stages of ovarian cancer often do not present noticeable symptoms, a doctor should consider and address a woman’s concerns over any symptoms. In addition, doctors should consider a woman’s specific risk factors including her family history or ovarian or breast cancers, her personal medical history, the presence of inherited genes such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene.

Hiring an Attorney

In any medical negligence or medical malpractice case, including ovarian cancer cases, the key question is whether any member of a woman’s medical team should have known to pursue further tests or treatment at an earlier point. An ovarian cancer medical malpractice attorney can help women who are victims of medical malpractice by working with medical experts, gathering medical records and tests, and investigating claims to prove a connection between a doctor’s negligence and a woman’s injuries.

Women and their families, who are the victims of ovarian cancer as a result of medical malpractice in Palm Beach County, may be entitled to recover damages. Those damages could include compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of services, and disability. If you or someone you know has been the victim of ovarian cancer, contact a Palm Beach County ovarian cancer medical malpractice lawyer.