Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer, while treatable when identified early, poses significant risks when it goes undiagnosed. Unlike other cancers, there is no routine screening for thyroid cancer; instead, it is usually diagnosed when a doctor identifies subtle symptoms and promptly takes appropriate measures. If a physician neglects these responsibilities and fails to diagnose thyroid cancer in a timely manner, it can lead to severe consequences. If you suffered losses due to your doctor’s failure to diagnose thyroid cancer, you could be owed damages it is essential to speak to a lawyer about your potential claims. The experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers have the knowledge and skills needed to demonstrate liability in claims against careless physicians, and if you engage our services, we can help you pursue the best legal outcome available in your case. We routinely represent people in lawsuits arising out of the failure to diagnose cancer in Syracuse, where our primary office is located, and in Rochester and other cities in Upstate New York.

The signs of thyroid cancer can be subtle, especially in the early stages of the disease. As it progresses, patients may experience symptoms such as a noticeable lump in the throat, voice changes like hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the throat and neck, and swollen lymph nodes. When patients present with these symptoms, healthcare providers should conduct various tests to determine whether thyroid cancer may be the underlying cause. These tests include a physical examination to assess changes in the thyroid, evaluation of risk factors, blood tests to check thyroid function, and an ultrasound. Abnormal test results may lead to a biopsy, where tissue is extracted from the thyroid to determine the presence of cancer. When thyroid cancer is not diagnosed in a timely manner, it can spread to other parts of the body and will often require more aggressive and complex treatments. A delayed diagnosis may also lead to a poorer prognosis, potentially affecting long-term survival rates and quality of life.

Doctors have an obligation to provide their patients with skilled care, which includes taking the necessary steps to identify and treat serious illnesses promptly. If a physician fails to diagnose a patient with thyroid cancer, it may constitute medical malpractice.

As the failure to diagnose thyroid cancer is usually the result of carelessness, most plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases will set forth negligence claims against the defendants. In New York, to prove a medical malpractice claim based on negligence, a plaintiff must establish a duty owed by the healthcare provider. This duty involves providing treatment that meets or exceeds the accepted and good standard of medical care, which is usually defined as the treatment a reasonable professional in the same practice area would provide under similar circumstances. The plaintiff must then show that the defendant’s actions deviated from this standard of care. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that the breach of the standard of care proximately caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm.

As jurors typically lack independent knowledge of medical duties, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case will usually need to hire a qualified medical expert to explain the standard of care demonstrate how the healthcare provider deviated from the standard, and establish a link between the healthcare provider's actions and the harm suffered by the plaintiff. If the plaintiff successfully demonstrates the healthcare provider's liability, they may be granted compensation for economic damages like medical care costs, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. They may also be granted non-economic damages to compensate for their mental trauma, suffering, and pain.

Patients rely on healthcare providers to identify symptoms that indicate thyroid cancer and conduct necessary tests for accurate diagnoses. When these responsibilities are neglected, the consequences can be tragic. If you have suffered harm due to a healthcare provider's failure to diagnose thyroid cancer, it is prudent to consult with an attorney to determine what damages you may be owed. The seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers are skilled at handling claims against careless physicians, and if we represent you, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. Our primary office is in Syracuse, and we regularly assist people in medical malpractice cases in Syracuse, Rochester, and other locations throughout Upstate New York. You can contact us to set up a confidential and free consultation by calling us at 833-200-2000 or by using our form online.