According to a 2019 study published in the British Medical Journal, the average GP appointment time in the UK is just 9.2 minutes, during which about 2.5 health issues are typically addressed. Many GPs feel that this limited timeframe is insufficient to deliver comprehensive care, especially considering the broad range of conditions they encounter daily. As a result, GPs may sometimes make errors in referrals, diagnoses, or treatments, potentially leading to serious consequences, particularly for cancers that benefit from early detection.
Each year, around 393,000 people in the UK receive a cancer diagnosis, with someone being told about their diagnosis every 90 seconds on average. A cancer diagnosis can be life-altering, and misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can result in incorrect or delayed treatment, reducing the chance of recovery.
At DLS Solicitors, if we can establish that your cancer was diagnosed too late or incorrectly, you may be eligible to claim compensation for cancer misdiagnosis. This compensation could enable you to access specialist treatments that may not be available through the NHS.
We provide all our clients with a free claims assessment and offer continuous support throughout the claims process. If a loved one has passed away due to a late cancer diagnosis caused by medical negligence, we can assist you in pursuing compensation.
If you are seeking compensation for a cancer misdiagnosis or late diagnosis, contact DLS Solicitors for a free claims assessment. We can arrange to meet you at your home if you reside in England or Wales, and we often work on a no-win, no-fee basis.
What is involved in making a claim for a cancer misdiagnosis?
Regrettably, cancer remains a significant health concern today, with a 40% increase in cancer cases since 2002. It’s important to recognise that the symptoms of cancer are not always immediately identifiable to medical professionals. In some cases, noticeable signs and symptoms are overlooked, which should have prompted an earlier investigation or treatment.
Experiencing such circumstances can be devastating for you and your family, with the top priority being to determine whether the cancer can be treated effectively. Common errors made by doctors in such cases include:
- Delaying referrals for further investigation of specific symptoms.
- Misdiagnosing your condition and administering incorrect treatment.
- Administrative mistakes, such as failing to communicate or act on test results,.
- Incorrectly reporting findings from scans, x-rays, or tissue samples.
- Neglecting to monitor treatment progress.
If you are considering a medical negligence claim, our expert medical negligence solicitors can evaluate your case and gather the necessary evidence to determine if you are eligible for compensation.
Each case is unique, and when assessing your claim, your medical negligence solicitor will review your medical records, past medical history, symptoms, and frequency of doctor visits.
What qualifies as a delayed cancer diagnosis?
As expected, early diagnosis of cancer can significantly improve the prognosis and chances of remission. Unfortunately, there are cases where cancer is diagnosed late, with symptoms going unrecognised for longer than they should.
This delay in cancer treatment can result in the cancer spreading, necessitating more invasive treatments, and, sadly, reducing the patient’s likelihood of survival.
Reasons for these delays may include:
- Failure to refer the patient to a specialist promptly.
- Doctors are missing or misdiagnosing early signs of cancer.
- Delays in checks or treatment due to waiting lists or administrative errors.
In most instances, when cancer is detected and treated earlier, the outlook is more favourable.
A delayed cancer diagnosis may lead to:
- Diagnosis at a more advanced stage of cancer.
- Spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
- Requirement for more aggressive treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
- Treatment-related life-changing injuries.
- Increased risk of cancer recurrence or metastasis.
- Impact on life expectancy.
Duty of Care
Healthcare providers are obligated to deliver treatment that meets certain standards of care. In the UK, there are nationally recognised guidelines that healthcare professionals must adhere to within their specific specialties.
Guidelines from organisations like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are examples of standards that all medical and healthcare professionals should consider when making clinical decisions or judgements. These guidelines outline recommendations for recognising and appropriately referring patients for further investigation and treatment based on the suspected site of cancer.
If it can be demonstrated that a healthcare professional provided treatment that fell below the acceptable standard of care, including a failure to follow NICE or other relevant guidelines without a justifiable reason, they may be considered negligent in their care of the patient.
How common is cancer misdiagnosis?
According to Cancer Research UK, approximately 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at least once during their lifetime.
Macmillan Cancer Support notes that while survival rates are improving and early diagnosis offers the best chance of longer life or complete recovery, cancer misdiagnosis remains a concerning issue.
Despite generally positive care experiences in the UK, cancer diagnoses are sometimes missed or initially misidentified. Research cited by The Independent indicates that four out of ten cancer patients are misdiagnosed at least once before their condition is correctly identified. Incorrect or delayed treatment can significantly reduce the chances of survival, potentially warranting a cancer negligence claim.
There are several reasons why cancer may be diagnosed late or misdiagnosed by medical professionals, including:
- Misinterpretation of X-rays, scans, tissue samples, or other medical test results.
- Failure to recognise or investigate symptoms promptly.
- Referral or procedural delays.
- Delays in initiating treatment.
Which types of cancer are often delayed or misdiagnosed?
There are over 200 types of cancer, and many of these cancers present symptoms that overlap with other health conditions. Consequently, a wide range of cancers can be overlooked or misdiagnosed for extended periods of time. Common cancer misdiagnosis scenarios include:
- Breast cancer is misidentified as an inflammatory breast condition like mastitis or fibrocystic breast disease.
- Bowel cancer is mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Lung cancer is being misdiagnosed as lung infections such as bronchitis, tuberculosis, or pneumonia.
- Ovarian cancer is often confused with other ovary-related issues, such as endometriosis.
- Pancreatic cancer is being misdiagnosed as an inflammatory bowel disease, including pancreatitis. In the UK, 3 out of 5 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at stages 3 and 4, where treatment becomes less effective.
- Brain tumours are being mistaken for other health problems.
Why is the early detection of pancreatic cancer crucial?
As previously mentioned, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of any cancer, including pancreatic cancer, significantly increase the likelihood of successful outcomes and a longer, healthier life.
Delays in diagnosis can hinder the process of accessing essential treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In the UK, seven out of ten people with pancreatic cancer do not receive active treatment, often due to a late-stage diagnosis when treatment effectiveness may be limited.
Moreover, misdiagnosis or late diagnosis can lead to worsening symptoms, adversely affecting the patient’s quality of life.
In the most severe cases, failure to diagnose cancer or misdiagnosis can result in conditions such as diabetes, indigestion, unexplained blood clots, or other life-threatening complications.
For certain cancers, survival rates vary significantly depending on the stage of detection. For example, when bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, more than nine out of ten people survive for five years or longer. However, if diagnosed late, this statistic drops dramatically to just one in ten surviving beyond five years. According to the NHS, approximately 16,500 individuals succumb to bowel cancer each year, making it the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Fortunately, bowel cancer is treatable and often curable when detected early, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention.
The Consequences of Cancer Misdiagnosis
Early detection and diagnosis of any cancer are crucial for achieving optimal recovery outcomes. Delayed diagnosis can lead to serious consequences, including:
- Cancer spreads to other parts of the body, resulting in a diagnosis at an advanced stage.
- Requirement for more aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- Increased risk of cancer recurrence in the future.
- Reduced life expectancy.
- Slower recovery, potentially necessitating time off work and additional care.
Do I have a claim?
If you have received care that falls below acceptable standards and has negatively impacted your condition, you may have grounds to make a claim for compensation.
It’s important to understand that claims for cancer misdiagnosis can be made against both the NHS and private healthcare providers.
Proving cancer negligence can be complex, and navigating this process alone can be daunting. Consulting with our specialist medical negligence solicitors will help clarify whether you are eligible to claim compensation and explore your options moving forward.
While seeking compensation may not be your initial priority after experiencing the upheaval of a missed or delayed cancer diagnosis, it’s important to acknowledge that no amount of compensation can erase the trauma of receiving such news. However, compensation can provide access to vital treatments.
Furthermore, pursuing a claim may lead to valuable lessons being learned from cases like yours, potentially preventing similar situations in the future.
Who is responsible for providing compensation in cases of delayed cancer diagnosis?
If you are pursuing a claim against a GP surgery, a private healthcare provider, or an NHS hospital for a delayed cancer diagnosis, you should not feel intimidated or worried. The compensation awarded does not directly impact their budgets.
NHS Resolution manages medical negligence claims involving misdiagnosis or delayed cancer diagnosis within the NHS. Private healthcare providers have their own insurers who handle medical negligence claims.
How can you prove a late cancer diagnosis?
To pursue a medical negligence claim, you must demonstrate that the care you received fell below the expected standard for a medical professional or doctor.
Additionally, you need to establish that your current advanced cancer symptoms result from medical negligence and that an earlier diagnosis would have occurred in the absence of these failures.
Depending on the circumstances, there may be situations where the care provided was reasonable, particularly if your cancer type is rare and could have been mistaken for another condition.
For a successful claim, it must be shown that the delay caused an injury or condition that could have been avoided. The duration of the delay is a critical factor.
In some instances, the delay may not have affected the diagnosis, treatment, or outcome of the condition.
When making a claim for compensation due to a delayed cancer diagnosis, your medical negligence solicitor will assess what your cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcome would have been if it had been promptly and accurately diagnosed. Your solicitor will then compare this with the current situation resulting from the delay you experienced.
If there is a discrepancy between what should have happened and what actually occurred, you may have grounds to pursue a claim for compensation.
How Can I Fund My Cancer Negligence Claim?
At DLS Solicitors, many of our cancer negligence claims are handled on a no-win, no-fee basis, also known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA). This arrangement means that you won’t owe any legal fees to us if your claim is unsuccessful.
If your claim is successful, our fee will be deducted directly from your compensation. We will discuss and agree upon a percentage with you upfront so that you have clarity from the beginning.
Can you claim for a late cancer diagnosis?
Cancer is often highly treatable when detected early, but any delay in diagnosis can allow the cancer to progress and spread to other areas of the body.
As a result of a delayed diagnosis, surgical intervention alone may no longer be sufficient, and any necessary surgeries could be more extensive than they would have been with an earlier diagnosis.
Furthermore, delayed diagnosis may necessitate additional, more invasive treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The most distressing consequence of a delayed cancer diagnosis is the potential for a shortened life expectancy, which can be devastating for both the individual and their loved ones. This impact is compounded by the awareness that an earlier diagnosis might have altered the outcome.
We recognise that even a successful compensation claim for delayed diagnosis cannot undo the impact of this negligence on you and your family. However, it can restore your financial position to what it would have been if you had not experienced medical errors.
For instance, if you have needed extended periods off work due to prolonged treatment that could have been avoided with a timely diagnosis, you can claim for lost earnings.
We can also seek compensation for the cost of private medical treatment to ensure timely access without lengthy waiting lists. Additionally, if your condition requires additional care or support at home, we can help you claim for these expenses.
In the unfortunate event of receiving a terminal diagnosis due to a delayed diagnosis, we can assist in preparing a “lost years” claim to recover financial benefits that would have been anticipated if the delay had not occurred.
Furthermore, if your family or loved ones rely on you financially, we can explore avenues for compensation to provide them with support after your passing.
In essence, our goal is to assist you and your family in rebuilding your lives as much as possible by ensuring access to necessary care, support, and treatment when needed.
How much compensation could I receive for my cancer misdiagnosis?
If our team of Medical Negligence Solicitors can demonstrate that your misdiagnosis or late diagnosis resulted from a breach of duty of care, causing additional harm, you may be entitled to compensation.
You can pursue a claim against both the NHS and private healthcare providers.
Compensation for a late diagnosis may cover:
- Additional pain and suffering
- Psychological harm;
- Financial losses, such as loss of earnings or travel expenses;
- Additional care and assistance required.
- Future financial losses, including loss of future earnings;
- Future treatment on a private basis;
- Home adaptations or necessary modifications;
- Rehabilitation;
- Prescription charges and medical fees
- Household tasks;
- Travel expenses;
- Out-of-pocket expenses;
- Special care aids and appliances.
Is There a Time Limit for Claiming Misdiagnosis or Late Cancer Diagnosis?
Generally, you have three years from the date of the negligence or from the date you became aware of it to commence your claim. This time limit may be extended in certain circumstances:
- If a person experiences a temporary mental incapacity, the time limit does not start until they regain mental capacity.
- If you are making a claim on behalf of a child, the time limit does not begin until their 18th birthday, and they can pursue their claim until their 21st birthday.
- If you are claiming following the death of a loved one, you have three years from the date of their death.
Courts have the discretion to alter time limits, although this is uncommon. Therefore, it is advisable to seek legal advice promptly if you believe you have grounds for a compensation claim due to cancer misdiagnosis or late diagnosis.
How we can help
At DLS Solicitors, our team of specialised lawyers boasts decades of experience handling a wide array of cancer-related claims. We offer tailored legal expertise and knowledge to address the specifics of your case.
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have a claim due to a cancer misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, we encourage you to contact one of our medical negligence solicitors without delay.
We provide a free claims assessment to thoroughly review your case and offer expert advice.
We understand the emotional impact that a cancer diagnosis can have on a family, and we are committed to supporting you throughout the claims process. With the staggering statistic of 1 in 2 individuals being diagnosed with cancer annually, it’s likely that many individuals will encounter instances of medical negligence. Our solicitors are approachable, empathetic, and dedicated to helping you secure the compensation you deserve.
