If a Malignant Tumour is Misdiagnosed as Another Condition

How To Claim For Clinical Negligence

If a malignant tumour is misdiagnosed as another condition, it may delay critical treatment. Accurate and timely diagnoses are crucial when it comes to malignant tumours. If your medical care was below the acceptable standard and led to harm, you may want to find out more about making a clinical negligence claim.

Good legal advice is crucial to help you gathering the correct evidence, obtain expert medical opinion and secure the financial support you may need going forward.

If you or a loved one have experienced misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a malignant tumour, Jefferies Claims may be able to help. We work with highly experienced lawyers who work on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis.

What Is Clinical Negligence?

Clinical negligence is when a healthcare professional provides a poor level of care resulting in harm, injury, or worsened health outcomes for the patient. Sometimes referred to as medical negligence, this may be grounds for a claim for compensation.

Misdiagnosis of a malignant tumour particularly when it leads to delayed or inappropriate treatment due to negligent care may lead to a clinical negligence claim.

For a claim to succeed, you would typically need to prove:

1. Duty of care: The healthcare provider owed you a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty: They failed to meet the required standard of care.
3. Causation: This failure directly caused avoidable harm or worsened your prognosis.

What Conditions May Be Mistaken for a Malignant Tumour?

One of the key challenges in diagnosing cancer lies in the fact that symptoms and imaging results may resemble those of other medical conditions. Some of the most common conditions that can be misdiagnosed as a malignant tumour include:

Benign Tumours

Non-cancerous growths may closely resemble malignant tumours in imaging studies such as CT scans and MRIs.

Infections

Certain infections, such as tuberculosis (TB), abscesses, or fungal infections, can present as masses or lesions on imaging studies.

Inflammatory Conditions

Autoimmune or inflammatory diseases can produce symptoms and imaging results similar to those of a malignant tumour.

Cysts

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs and can sometimes be mistaken for malignant masses depending on their size, location, and appearance on scans.

Metastatic Disease from an Unknown Primary Cancer

Secondary tumours can be misdiagnosed when the primary cancer source remains unidentified or is assumed to be benign.

Scar Tissue

Post-surgical or post-inflammatory scar tissue can occasionally resemble tumour tissue on imaging, leading to a possible misdiagnosis.

Proper diagnostic tools, such as biopsies, advanced imaging techniques, and specialist consultations should be used to differentiate these conditions from malignant tumours.

The Impact of a Delayed Diagnosis

A delayed cancer diagnosis may potentially have severe consequences. Typically, the earlier a malignant tumour is detected, the better the prognosis.

Early-stage cancers generally have significantly higher survival rates compared to advanced-stage diseases. However, in all instances you should always consult with a medical professional around life expectancy questions.

How to Claim for Clinical Negligence After a Misdiagnosis

If you believe you’ve suffered due to a misdiagnosed malignant tumour, here’s how to begin a clinical negligence claim:

Seek Legal Advice

Consult a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence claims. They will assess your case, review medical records, and advise whether you have a viable claim.

Gather Evidence

Collect all relevant documents, including:

• Medical records
• Appointment details
• Test results
• Referral letters
• Personal notes of symptoms and appointments

This information will support your claim and help establish what went wrong.

Valuing Your Claim

Compensation for clinical negligence typically covers:

• General damages: For pain, suffering, and loss of amenity.
• Special damages: For financial losses such as medical expenses, travel costs, loss of earnings, and care needs.

If it is a case of fatal cancer misdiagnosis, the bereaved family may also claim for dependency losses and funeral expenses.

Time Limits for Clinical Negligence Claims

To start a claim, you typically have three years from the date you became aware of the misdiagnosis or should reasonably have known about it. Exceptions may apply for children or those lacking mental capacity.

How To Start A Claim

Cancer misdiagnosis claims can be complicated, and a solicitor will have the necessary experience to help you build a strong case.

You should be able to show the direct link between the negligence by a healthcare provider and that the delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis led to a worsening health outcome/

Jefferies Claims can guide you through the process of how to claim compensation. We work with highly experienced lawyers in this field who operate on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis. We will give you the support and understanding you need at this difficult time. Call us at 0333 358 3034 for a free no-obligation chat or visit Jefferies Claims Contact Us Page