Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Cleveland Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney: 10% of Cancers Misdiagnosed

Unless they are cancer misdiagnosis attorneys in Cleveland themselves, most people look at a misdiagnosis in cancer as the exception to the rule: a rare anomaly, like getting struck by lightning. It happens, but not to most people.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, cancer misdiagnosis is surprisingly common. A new study suggests that as many as 10% of all cancers are actually misdiagnosed.

These medical errors result in serious disabilities or even death in 53.9% of those cases misdiagnosed.

Led by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the study was first published in the journal Diagnosis.

The Study in a Nutshell

“Diagnostic improvement initiatives should focus on dangerous conditions with higher diagnostic error and misdiagnosis-related harm rates,” the authors conclude.

“Finally, it is worth pointing out that diseases historically receiving the most sustained attention to diagnosis (i.e. research funding, clinical quality improvement, public awareness) are the ones with the lowest harm rates,” the researchers write. “Myocardial infarction is the prototype and the only acute illness approaching the target “standard” of <1% harmed often cited in the emergency department. This is, of course, after a half-century of focused efforts to automate electrocardiogram interpretation, develop and refine biomarkers (e.g. troponin) and create routine diagnostic protocols for chest pain or suspected acute coronary syndromes. Similarly, basic research studies and clinical trials focused on prostate cancer biomarkers (e.g. prostate-specific antigen) date back to the 1960s. Achieving similar gains may be possible for other key diseases, but only if we make sustained investments in improving diagnosis (e.g., missed stroke in acute dizziness, where novel bedside tests and telemedicine have shown early promise).”

If you’ve been the victim of a cancer misdiagnosis, you’re not alone. And yes, those responsible for these medical errors should be held accountable. Contact one of our cancer misdiagnosis attorneys in Cleveland for a free consultation.