Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable malignancies, and men with prostate cancer can typically expect a good prognosis if they are diagnosed when the disease is in the early stages. Once prostate cancer spreads, though, it becomes more difficult to treat, and patients often have worse outcomes. As such, prostate cancer screening is recommended for most men once they reach a certain age. If a doctor fails to conduct such screening, it can lead to irreparable losses and may be grounds for pursuing medical malpractice claims. If you were inadequately screened for prostate cancer and suffered harm as a result, you may be owed damages, and you should speak to an attorney. The Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, are proficient at proving negligent physicians should be held responsible for the harm they cause, and if you engage our services, we will diligently pursue any compensation available. We frequently represent injured people in medical malpractice cases in Syracuse, Rochester, and throughout Upstate New York.
Prostate Cancer ScreeningProstate cancer screening is essential for early detection and effective management of the disease. It typically involves two tests: the prostate-specific antigen blood test and the digital rectal exam. The prostate-specific antigen blood test measures the level of PSA in the blood, as higher levels could potentially indicate prostate cancer. The digital rectal exam allows a physician to physically check the prostate for abnormalities.
Prostate cancer screening typically begins at age 50 for men at average risk. For those at higher risk, such as men with a family history of prostate cancer, screening often starts earlier, around age 40 to 45. Screening decisions should be personalized based on individual risk factors such as age, family history, and race, as these factors influence the likelihood of developing prostate cancer and the benefits of early detection. While screening can help detect cancer early, it also carries risks such as false positives and overdiagnosis, leading to unnecessary treatments. Therefore, discussions between patients and healthcare providers are crucial to making informed decisions about prostate cancer screening.
Harm Caused by Inadequately Performed Prostate Cancer ScreeningInadequately performed prostate cancer screening can lead to delayed cancer diagnoses, fewer treatment options, and a shortened life expectancy, all of which can cause physical, emotional, and economic harm. As such, people hurt by such errors will often pursue damages in medical malpractice lawsuits.
In New York, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case will generally have to prove the defendant’s negligence. To do so, they must establish each element of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. This means that they have to show that the defendant had a duty to provide care that comported with the good and accepted practice of medicine, which is the treatment that a reasonable practitioner who works in the same specialty as the defendant would offer in a similar scenario. The plaintiff then must show that the defendant’s acts or omissions deviated from the standard and should arguably be considered a breach.
Finally, the plaintiff has to prove that they sustained measurable harm and connect their harm to the defendant’s breach of the duty owed. In other words, they must show that if the defendant had not engaged in the behavior in question, they would not have suffered losses.
Talk to a Dedicated Medical Malpractice Attorney in Syracuse, Rochester, or Upstate New YorkProstate cancer screening is essential for early detection and treatment of the disease, and when it is not conducted properly, it can lead to grave harm. If you have questions about your rights with regard to pursuing claims about a doctor who failed to perform adequate prostate cancer screening, it is advisable to talk to an attorney. The dedicated Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers can evaluate the circumstances that caused your losses and inform you of your options for seeking the best outcome possible under the facts of your case. Our primary office is in Syracuse. We regularly represent injured parties in medical malpractice lawsuits in Syracuse as well as in Rochester and throughout Upstate New York. To schedule a confidential and free consultation, you can reach us through our online form or by calling us at 833-200-2000.