There are a variety of cancers out there that can pose a significant health risk to unsuspecting Texans. The best way to combat these diseases is to catch them early and seek aggressive treatment as soon as they are detected. Medical professionals have a number of recommendations with regard to when certain cancer screening should occur and with what frequency, but the effectiveness of these tests are wholly dependent upon the medical professionals who conduct them.
For an example, let us look at colon cancer. It is recommended that the average person start screening for the disease at the age of 50. To detect colon cancer, doctors may perform one or more of a number of tests. Amongst these are a colonoscopy, where a video camera attached to a long, flexible tube is used to visually inspect one’s colon. If abnormalities are spotted using this test, then additional testing, including biopsy, can be conducted. Another way to test for this disease is test blood samples for certain chemicals that may be an indication of the cancer’s existence.
Although colon cancer can be effectively treated, that often depends on catching it early. While a colonoscopy can be quite accurate in identifying cancer, far too often medical professionals fail to properly identify the signs of cancer and conduct further testing. When this happens, an individual’s cancer can worsen, sometimes to the point that it becomes untreatable. This worsened condition can lead to extensive pain and suffering, the incurrence of medical expenses, and even extensive amounts of lost wages due to work. In the absolute worst cases, patients die because of their doctors’ errors.
We place a lot of trust in our medical professionals. When that trust is breached by failing to adhere to acceptable medical standards, medical malpractice has likely occurred. This is wholly unacceptable and these errant medical professionals need to be held accountable for the damages they cause. Those affected by medical malpractice, including a failure to diagnose, should think about contacting a legal professional who may be able to help them build a strong claim in pursuit of imposing liability and recovering compensation.
