Damages in Colon Cancer Malpractice Cases

The colon is also known as the large intestine. Colon cancer affects these portions of the body. The risk of colon cancer is higher for older adults than younger ones. Colon cancer can impact both men and women. It is the second deadliest form of cancer in the country, but it is treatable if it’s caught in time during screening or diagnosis. Colon cancer often begins as a small group of cells called polyps that are generated within the colon. When the polyps are small, they don’t tend to produce symptoms, but most guidelines recommend that doctors conduct regular screenings to remove the polyps before they turn cancerous. A doctor that does not act as a reasonably competent doctor would have acted under the circumstances when addressing the possibility of colon cancer may be held accountable in a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you were harmed by colon cancer malpractice, you should get in touch with the medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Attorneys.

Symptoms of colon cancer include persistent change in bowels, weakness, fatigue, abdominal discomfort such as pain or cramps, rectal bleeding, a full feeling in your bowels and inexplicable weight loss. When you go to the doctor, you likely assume he or she will act professionally to screen, diagnose, and treat any illness that can be spotted, particularly those for which you report symptoms. Tragically, however some patients are harmed by the consequences of a doctor’s negligence. Cancer may be diagnosed too late and can result in a worsened prognosis or even death.

The colon is also called the large intestine, and it is the final part of the digestive tract. It is made up of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and the rectum. Colon cancer affects these areas of the body. The risk of colon cancer is higher for older adults than in other age groups. However, this type of cancer can happen at any age. When a doctor does find polyps, there are ways to treat it, including drug treatment, surgery, and radiation. Treatments for colon cancer include targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Depending on your risk factors, your doctor will recommend more frequent screenings. If your medical provider fails to diagnose your cancer accurately, you may be entitled to seek compensation by bringing a medical malpractice [link to medical malpractice] lawsuit.

Compensatory damages are those meant to make up for your past, present, and future losses. They may include both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include wage loss, medical bills, replacement services, and out-of-pocket losses.

For future economic losses, such as future wage loss, we may need to retain an economist or other expert to testify on the question of your life span and what you might have expected to make if not for the colon cancer malpractice. Noneconomic damages may include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. For example, if, due to colon cancer progressing, you were no long able to have an intimate romantic relationship with your spouse, he or she would have a claim for loss of consortium.

If your loved one died because of colon cancer malpractice, you may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.

There may be situations in which it is appropriate for our Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers to seek punitive damages. These are damages awarded to punish and deter, and they would only be available if your provider’s conduct was egregious or intentional caused you harm. For example, if your provider intentionally failed to call you about a polyps, and as a result of the polyps not being treated, your cancer spread and care became extremely painful and difficult to address, you may be entitled to punitive damages.

The Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Attorneys may be able to represent you in a lawsuit for damages as a result of failure to diagnose or treat colon cancer. We have represented cancer patients and their families in lawsuits for decades and we’ve recovered more than $200 million in personal injury awards and settlements. We represent clients in Herkimer, Oneida, Rochester, Auburn, Wampsville, Watertown, Oswego, Lowville, Canandaigua, Lyons, Ithaca, Cooperstown, Utica, Binghamton, Elmira, and all throughout Upstate, New York. Complete our online form or call us at 833-200-2000.