Colon cancer grows slowly and can take years to develop fully. If it is detected early through screening tests, such as colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies, this condition is frequently curable. Both men and women over 50 with no risk factors should have regular colonoscopies so that polyps or any other sign of cancer can be addressed quickly. Removing polyps before they become cancerous can halt the development and spread of cancer. People who do have risk factors, such as a family history of colorectal cancer, Crohn’s Disease, or Type 2 diabetes, may need to be screened earlier. At Duffy & Duffy, our medical negligence lawyers understand the anxiety that may arise when you develop colon cancer and are not sure whether a healthcare provider acted with the appropriate care. Our Long Island colon cancer lawyers are ready to review your claim.
Many patients fail to follow through on the screening tests, and doctors cannot force them to appear to be tested. However, a doctor who fails to make appropriate recommendations or fails to diagnose colon cancer when faced with positive test results has likely committed medical malpractice. If you are injured by a doctor’s negligence, you can potentially recover medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, household services, lost income, and pain and suffering.
A colon cancer attorney on Long Island must consult an expert to determine whether there is a reasonable basis for bringing a case against the hospital or professionals allegedly at fault. The attorney must file a written certificate of consultation with an expert within 90 days of filing the complaint. The certificate needs to state that the attorney reviewed the case and consulted with at least one licensed physician, and because of the consultation thinks there is a reasonable basis for filing the lawsuit.
Among other things, the attorney and experts will consider whether a health care provider failed to recommend a colonoscopy or another screening test, whether the health care provider appropriately evaluated the colonoscopy or other test, whether polyps were detected and removed, and whether symptoms of colon cancer described or exhibited by the patient were recognized. If you have been injured by a medical professional, whether it’s a clear case of medical malpractice or a more complex case, our New York attorneys can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Different types of monetary damages are available in a successful colon cancer lawsuit. Some common examples that our Long Island attorneys address in a colon cancer claim include the following:
Colon cancer often requires extensive medical treatment. The cost of things like diagnostic testing, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can be high, especially when treatment goes on for months. In a medical malpractice case, you can pursue compensation for both past and future medical expenses connected to your negligent care. The goal is to ensure you do not pay out of pocket for these avoidable medical costs.
This disease and its treatment often cause severe physical pain, discomfort, and a long period of recovery. You have the right to seek damages based on your physical and emotional pain related to your condition. While not as easy to measure as your medical bills, our attorneys can establish what your suffering claim is worth in court.
Many people with colon cancer are forced to take time away from work to undergo treatment and recover from their illness. This can take months in some cases. If a medical mistake worsened the condition, you may be able to recover compensation for the income lost during that period. This includes wages, bonuses, and other employment benefits you would have earned if the illness had been diagnosed and treated properly.
Colon cancer can permanently affect a person’s ability to work. Some patients cannot return to the same type of job they held before treatment, while others may not be able to work at all. If negligent medical care allowed the disease to progress further than it should have, the financial impact can last for years. Compensation for diminished future earnings addresses this long-term loss by accounting for the income you likely would have earned throughout your career.
A cancer diagnosis brings enormous emotional strain. Patients often face fear, anxiety, depression, and the stress of uncertain medical outcomes. Compensation for emotional distress recognizes the psychological toll that negligent medical care can create for both the patient and their family.
If you are living with untreated colon cancer due to a medical error, you have a path to financial compensation. The following steps can get you towards the outcome you deserve.
The first step in pursuing compensation is reviewing the medical care you received. A colon cancer attorney on Long Island will examine medical records, diagnostic tests, and treatment decisions to determine whether a doctor or hospital failed to meet the accepted standard of care. In colon cancer cases, this often involves reviewing whether symptoms were ignored or abnormal results were not followed up properly.
Proving that you have colon cancer is not enough to win a malpractice case. Your attorneys will need to rely on independent medical experts who can review the records and explain how the provider’s actions caused your harm.
Once the case has been evaluated, your attorney can file a medical malpractice lawsuit in court. The complaint outlines what the medical provider did wrong and explains how that negligence caused injury.
Many colon cancer malpractice cases are resolved through settlement negotiations between the parties. Settlements might be common, but they require a strong case for negligence first.
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, the case may go to trial. At trial, your attorney presents evidence to show how the negligence caused you harm. A judge or jury then decides whether the provider is liable and determines the amount of compensation you should receive.
Patients rely on the guidance of their doctors, whom they expect to have greater knowledge of cancer than they do. Unfortunately, there are many cases in which healthcare professionals do not adequately investigate a patient’s complaints of rectal bleeding, misread the colonoscopy results, or fail to initiate further testing or a colonoscopy for people who are especially at risk. Failure to diagnose colon cancer in the early stages may be medical malpractice, and the Long Island colon cancer lawyers at Duffy & Duffy can help you seek damages if your healthcare provider fails to diagnose your condition in a timely manner, whether it be a stroke, colon cancer, or many other conditions. Set up an appointment with us by calling (516) 969-5874 or completing our online form.
Among other things, the attorney and experts will consider whether a health care provider failed to recommend a colonoscopy or another screening test, whether the health care provider appropriately evaluated the colonoscopy or other test, whether polyps were detected and removed, and whether symptoms of colon cancer described or exhibited by the patient were recognized. If you have been injured by a medical professional, whether it’s a clear case of medical malpractice or a more complex case, our New York attorneys can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Patients rely on the guidance of their doctors, whom they expect to have greater knowledge of cancer than they do. Unfortunately, there are many cases in which healthcare professionals do not adequately investigate a patient’s complaints of rectal bleeding, misread the colonoscopy results, or fail to initiate further testing or a colonoscopy for people who are especially at risk. Failure to diagnose colon cancer in the early stages may be medical malpractice, and the Long Island colon cancer lawyers at Duffy & Duffy can help you seek damages if your healthcare provider fails to diagnose your condition in a timely manner, whether it be a stroke, colon cancer, or many other conditions. Set up an appointment with us by calling (516) 394-4200 or completing our online form.
No. Our injury cases are handled on a contingent retainer. You pay nothing upfront, and we recover attorney’s fees only if your litigation is successful. We don’t bill by the hour. You don’t need to worry about running up a large attorney’s bill before you see any recovery for your injuries.
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Each case we encounter is carefully screened and evidence scrutinized to make sure the claim is meritorious and may be successful at trial. We will perform an investigation, and then our partners make a final decision on whether to take on a case.