What You Need To Know About Oncology Malpractice

Kansas City Medical Malpractice Attorneys Provide Essential Information About Oncology Malpractice Lawsuits

Discovering you have cancer is a devastating moment, and it’s only logical to turn to an oncologist to come to terms with your situation and discuss the next steps. But what if your oncologist provided a misdiagnosis? Maybe you don’t have cancer after all. Or perhaps a course of treatment or surgical approach was mishandled.

If you suspect oncology malpractice, it’s important to know your options. Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet is an experienced Kansas City medical malpractice law firm with a successful track record handling cases like these. Consulting with us is the first critical step for determining your rights and potential damage recovery.

Types of Oncology Malpractice

An oncologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. But they’re human and prone to mistakes like any other. There are risk factors when dealing with an oncologist for cancer diagnoses, removal, and treatment—here are some of the most common forms of wrongdoing.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

An incorrect or delayed diagnosis occurs when an oncologist fails to correctly identify cancer or hinders the process of proper diagnosis, leading to missed treatment opportunities and potentially worsening a patient's condition. This may result in significant harm, including the progression of the disease that could have been mitigated with timely intervention.

We’ll Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard

Experience that gets results. At Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet, we are well-known for our knowledge, experience, and results for our clients in serious personal injury matters, particularly medical negligence, birth injuries, and brain and spine injuries. In fact, we litigate a substantial share of all medical negligence cases filed in the Kansas City metropolitan area and have pursued cases all over Missouri and Kansas.

Caring personal representation. If you or a family member has been injured due to medical negligence, birth injury or trauma, semi-trailer truck negligence, or have sustained paralysis, brain damage, or other catastrophic injuries due to the negligence of an individual or corporation, put an experienced, hardworking, and compassionate trial team on your side. We understand that this is a stressful time, and we’re committed to giving you the best outcome possible.

Compensation that brings a sense of closure. You only pay if we win, which allows us to dedicate quality time to every client. We don’t accept low-ball offers, and we work tirelessly to bring accident victims and their loved ones needed closure. In the event of gross negligence, we will pursue punitive damages to punish the parties responsible and ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Incorrect Treatment

This includes administering the wrong medication, incorrect dosages, or establishing treatment plans not suited to your specific type of cancer. Such errors can exacerbate your condition, lead to unnecessary side effects, and worsen your prognosis.

Surgical Mishaps

Surgical errors in oncology are some of the more severe examples of malpractice. These include:

Operating on the wrong area
Failing to remove all cancerous tissues
Causing unintended damage to surrounding organs

Surgical mistakes frequently result in further health problems by requiring additional surgeries and prolonging recovery times.

No Informed Consent

Patients have the right to be fully informed about their treatment options, including the risks and benefits. Oncologists must provide clear and comprehensive information to allow patients to make informed decisions. A lack of informed consent might result in treatments or procedures you weren’t adequately prepared to handle.

Incomplete Follow-Up Care

It’s an oncologist's duty to monitor their patients' progress and respond to any changes. Consistent follow-up is critical to address any adverse drug reactions or adjust treatment plans as needed. Failing to conduct necessary follow-up appointments or ignoring patient concerns is a form of malpractice that causes untreated complications and worsened health outcomes.

What to Do If You Suspect Oncology Malpractice

First, arrange for a second opinion from another health care provider. A full and thorough medical examination is necessary to get to the heart of the issue and address it properly. Another oncologist can help confirm if malpractice did take place and provide additional insight into what to do next to maintain your health.

Second, keep track of all documents relating to your health condition, including:

Medical bills and related expenses
Detailed records regarding diagnosis, treatment recommendations, medications, and procedures
Post-treatment and post-operative directives

This documentation is critical when seeking compensation in legal proceedings as well as additional medical consultations required.

Third, report all concerns regarding the prospect of malpractice to the medical facility where you believe it took place. Hospitals will likely have an internal review process to help address the issue. However, this doesn’t replace the need for your own legal counsel.

When and Why to Contact a Kansas City Malpractice Lawyer

Don’t hesitate to contact Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet right away if you’re concerned about oncology malpractice. In Missouri, the statute of limitations to file most medical malpractice cases is two years after the date of injury. Since medical negligence is challenging to prove, you want trusted legal counsel on your side, working diligently from the start to build a solid case. Here’s what our skilled team can do for you.

Detail Your Rights

A lawyer specializing in medical malpractice can help you understand your legal rights and options. They can explain the complexities of malpractice law in Missouri and ensure you have a clear picture of what your case might entail.

Preserve and Gather Evidence

It takes time to collect enough proof to support your claims. Our experienced team will help obtain:

Your medical records
Correspondence with the oncologist, the treatment team, and your insurance provider
Bills and receipts
Your personal health journal
Insurance documents
Expert testimonies

If you lost a loved one due to oncology malpractice, you might also need to provide autopsy results as proof of negligence.

Navigate Legal Procedures

Lawsuits are complicated. Our medical malpractice attorneys guide you through each step, from filing the claim and identifying all potentially liable parties to negotiating with insurance companies and representing you in court, if necessary. The expertise you gain from hiring an attorney can considerably increase your chances of a successful outcome.

Maximizing Compensation

It’s only right you receive compensation for all of your pain and suffering. Rectifying oncology malpractice can result in significant medical expenses, loss of income, and emotional distress. When seeking the maximum compensation possible, the experienced team of Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet evaluates all aspects of financial remuneration to which you’re entitled. While this doesn’t resolve what happened to you or your loved ones, it can help provide for a more promising future.

Do You Believe You Or A Loved One Have Experienced Medical Malpractice? Speak With A Kansas City Area Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one are victims of medical negligence or malpractice, it's critical that you contact an experienced Kansas City medical malpractice lawyer right away. You’ll need to show a number of things to prove that malpractice was the direct or proximal cause of your injuries. Please feel free to contact us online or call our office directly at 888.813.0825 to schedule your free consultation. We are proud to serve Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding area and look forward to speaking with you.