Abstract View of Urban Scene and Skyscrapers
AV Preeminent
Justia Lawyer Rating
American Association for Justice

Oncology Malpractice

Ocala Lawyers Dedicated to Assisting Injured Cancer Patients

Oncology involves the study of cancer. Oncologists treat cancer by using medical treatments, surgery, or radiation. They may also perform biopsies to help diagnose cancer. Medical treatments include chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Surgical treatments include the removal of tumors and nearby tissue. If you are harmed due to any type of error while you are undergoing treatment for cancer, you should consult an Ocala oncology malpractice lawyer at the Dean Law Firm. We can help you determine whether you have a claim for compensation and vigorously pursue it if you do.

Common Situations Involving Oncology Malpractice

There are different types of oncologists. There are pediatric oncologists who treat cancer in children and teenagers. Certain forms of cancer happen more frequently in kids and teens, including some brain tumors and leukemia. There are gynecological oncologists who specialize in treating uterine, ovarian, or cervical caner. Oncologists manage patient care throughout the course of cancer, beginning with diagnosis. The oncologist will explain the diagnosis and the stage that the cancer has reached. The oncologist discusses treatment options with the patient and makes a recommendation about which option would be most effective. The oncologist delivers the treatment that is chosen and helps the patient manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer.

Often, an oncologist works on a multidisciplinary team with other kinds of doctors to develop an overall treatment plan that includes different forms of treatment. The oncologist is likely to work with a pathologist who reads lab tests in order to diagnose the cancer. The oncologist will also likely work with a diagnostic radiologist who will perform imaging such as ultrasounds or x-rays in order to diagnose the cancer. Oncologists will also need to work with other health care providers, such as nurses. When treatment causes an unpleasant side effect, the oncologist may need to work with doctors in other specialties; for example, if you develop skin problems, it may be necessary for your oncologist to work with a dermatologist.

Patients must put a lot of trust in their oncologists to properly diagnose and treat their cancer. Unfortunately, sometimes oncologists act in ways that cause further harm, and an oncology malpractice attorney at our Ocala firm can help patients hold oncologists accountable when this happens.

If you suspect that your oncologist has committed medical malpractice, you will need to investigate whether there was a breach of the professional duty of care that caused your injuries. In most cases, it is necessary to consult medical experts about what the professional duty of care was under the circumstances and whether there was a breach. It is usually necessary to retain one or more medical experts on the question of whether the breach of a professional duty caused your injuries. Sometimes doctors defend themselves by arguing that the injuries were caused by the cancer and would have happened regardless of the malpractice. It is critical for your Ocala oncology malpractice attorney to find a credible and knowledgeable oncologist expert to show otherwise.

Errors that could trigger a malpractice claim include a failure to diagnose cancer, a misdiagnosis of cancer, prescribing an incorrect medication, mistaking a benign tumor for a malignant tumor, failing to monitor whether a treatment was successful with the right lab results, or misinterpreting the outcome of diagnostic tests like a PET scan or CT scan. Sometimes it entails failing to do a different or more comprehensive surgery or failing to provide the appropriate follow-up care after a surgery. Some kinds of cancer can be treated more easily than other kinds. When esophageal, lung, liver, or pancreatic cancer is involved, a patient may not survive. An oncologist is less likely to be liable for a delay in diagnosis or a misdiagnosis when cancer was not especially treatable. However, there are some cancers that have a higher likelihood of successful treatment, and liability in these cases may turn on the specific type of cancer and how advanced it is. When a mistake happens before a tumor can grow or metastasize to other organs, this may affect the prognosis less than a tumor that happens when treatment is more restricted.

Consult an Experienced Oncology Malpractice Lawyer in the Ocala Area

At the Dean Law Firm, our Ocala trial attorneys may be able to recover damages on your behalf if you or a loved one was harmed by oncology malpractice. We serve patients affected by medical negligence in Ocala, The Villages, Crystal River, and other areas of Citrus, Levy, Sumter, Marion, and Lake Counties. Contact us at 352-387-8700 or through our online form.