In every state, there are strict guidelines for what a patient must prove in order to be awarded damages for medical malpractice. These rules vary from state-to-state and can sometimes make it difficult for cancer patients to win their cases.
However, according to cancer law Buffalo experts, with the right proof, winning a malpractice claim can be easy. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most important things you should prove in a cancer malpractice lawsuit.
What’s A Cancer Malpractice Claim?
A cancer malpractice claim is when a person files suit against their doctor or other medical professional for improper diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up care. It is also filed if the patient feels that they were not informed of all available treatments or options for treatment prior to surgery.
What You Should Prove To Win This Type Of Trial
1.The Doctor’s Error Was As A Result Of Negligence Or Malpractice
Most states have laws that state what “reasonable care” is when it comes to diagnosing and treating cancer. These standards vary depending on the type of treatment being offered, but in general if a doctor does not meet this standard they can be found negligent or guilty of malpractice.
Another way to prove negligence would be by showing that your doctor showed incompetence during their initial diagnosis since an error with early detection could lead to better outcomes for patients overall.
A negligent diagnosis includes misdiagnosis of cancer, a delayed diagnosis of cancer, treatment that is inappropriate for the stage of your disease or not enough chemotherapy.
To prove negligence in a medical malpractice case you must show what was done wrong and how it has affected you. You will need to provide evidence such as expert testimony about acceptable standards and practices in the field at the time your care was given with examples from sources outside your doctor’s practice.
Get copies of all test results related to your illness before making any conclusions. Also compile detailed information on every aspect of your condition including symptoms, treatments and laboratory findings and obtain opinions from specialists outside of where you were treated.
- The Existence Of A Doctor Patient Relationship Prior To The Alleged Diagnosis Error.
The plaintiff must also prove that a doctor-patient relationship existed when the alleged diagnosis error occurred. This is usually an issue only for surgeons and physicians. These relationships are based on mutual consent between patient and physician as well as medical advice given to the patient by their physicians.
The fact that these two elements exist does not automatically mean there was a doctor-patient relationship; it just means this could potentially be argued if necessary (and often successfully).
This requirement may be difficult if a patient has been seen by different doctors in multiple departments or even hospitals over many years for different issues. In order to meet this criteria, you would need evidence supporting what diagnoses were made when you sought care from various healthcare providers.
- The Patient Suffered Injury Or Harm Because Of Negligence Of The Defendant
The patient must prove that the defendant’s negligence led to injury or harm. That means they have to show what went wrong, and how it caused them problems. For example, if a doctor didn’t diagnose cancer due to his or her neglectful behavior, then a lawyer can argue that this led to their death because they didn’t receive treatment in time.
This is why some patients are forced (or choose) to sue doctors for malpractice after diagnosis instead of before: so there’s proof medical mistakes played a role in prolonging their illness and making it worse than necessary.
Other types of negligence that can lead to injury or death include:
– Lack of informed consent disclosures;
– Obtaining an MRI for a patient who was not suspected to have cancer, but the doctors failed to disclose this information. This led to an increased dose and number of radiation treatments which in turn caused more severe side effects including paralysis and kidney failure.
– Failure to diagnose and treat cervical cancer found during examination by gynecologist prior to delivering baby, because doctor assumed mother had pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). As a result, the woman died from sepsis that developed after delivery when her cervix became infected after birth.
The Bottom Line
It’s vital to know what cancer patients must prove in order to increase their chances of winning a malpractice claim. The evidence needed for this is usually either eyewitness testimony or records documenting negligent conduct. Failure to provide adequate documentation can result in dismissal of a case on summary judgment without trial.