Missed Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer? Array Your Legal Options

Prostate cancer is the number one type of non-skin cancer in men. According to the US National Institutes of Health, one of three men diagnosed with cancer will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Overall, one in six men will be affected by prostate cancer. Every 19 minutes a man will die of prostate cancer.



If it’s detected early, the survival rate for prostate cancer is very high. The key to early detection is proper diagnosis by a medical professional. Where such a professional fails to detect prostate cancer because of a misdiagnosis or overlooked test results, it may be medical negligence.



Prostate Cancer



The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system, located near the rectum and bladder. Cancer develops in the prostate when the body begins producing an increased number of blood cells. These cells collect to form a tumor.



Not all men will experience symptoms of prostate cancer, but some will. Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

• Frequent urination

• Difficulty urinating

• Painful urination

• Bloody discharge

• Pain or stiffness in the lower back



With early detection, prostate cancer can be successfully treated. The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that because 90 percent of prostate cancer cases are detected in the early stages, the treatment rate is close to 100 percent. But if a medical professional ignores or misdiagnoses the symptoms of prostate cancer, this survival rate can decrease.



Misdiagnosis



Misdiagnosis can occur when the symptoms of prostate cancer are confused with the symptoms of common prostate conditions. An prostate gland infection or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause many of the same symptoms as prostate cancer. Failure to correctly diagnose prostate cancer may be medical negligence.



Misdiagnosis may also occur when tests yield false results. Prostate cancer may be detected through tests like the digital rectal exam (DRE) and blood tests for prostate-specific antigens (PSA). These tests are not always accurate. Men with higher than normal levels of PSA do not necessarily have prostate cancer and normal levels of PSA can be found in men with prostate cancer. Furthermore, a DRE can miss prostate cancer altogether.



If a medical professional has reason to suspect the presence of prostate cancer, whether because of reported symptoms or test results, a biopsy must be ordered to either confirm or conclusively rule out prostate cancer. When such measures are not taken there may be an issue of medical malpractice.



Consequences of misdiagnosis



Misdiagnosis can result in increased medical costs and pain and suffering. What may otherwise have been a minimally invasive procedure to treat prostate cancer can become a lengthy, expensive, and possibly painful treatment. It may result in complete loss of the prostate gland or even death.



When a doctor misdiagnoses prostate cancer, they may be held liable for past and future medical costs, as well as for pain and suffering. In the unimaginable situation where a loved one died because of a misdiagnosis, a wrongful death lawsuit can recover funeral costs, loss of inheritance or earnings, and pain and suffering experienced by the deceased’s family.



According to Utah medical malpractice attorney Eric Nielson, of G. Eric Nielson & Associates, medical malpractice is a complicated field. Few attorneys specialize only in medical malpractice law, and an unskilled attorney can be unaware of obstacles and pitfalls frequently encountered in medical malpractice cases.