Suffolk County Cancer Malpractice Lawyer

Cancer is one of the deadliest but also highly treatable diseases. Early detection and proper care are key to regaining quality of life. Unfortunately, not all people have a chance to battle the illness due to the negligent actions of their healthcare providers.

If you or your loved one suffered additional harm because of medical malpractice, you can seek compensation. With an experienced Suffolk County cancer malpractice lawyer on your side, you have a strong chance of recovering fair damages.

Common Types of Cancer Malpractice

Cancer malpractice has many forms. In short, it's a mistake made by the medical team in relation to the patient's diagnosis or treatment. The most common types are:

• Delayed Diagnosis: Failure to diagnose cancer in a timely manner, causing a delay in treatment
• Failure to Diagnose: Complete failure to recognize symptoms or properly test for cancer
• Failure to Follow Up: Not following up on abnormal test results or symptoms, resulting in missed or delayed diagnosis
• Improper Treatment Plan: Administering incorrect treatment, such as using the wrong chemotherapy regimen or radiation dosage
• Informed Consent Violations: Failing to inform patients of the risks, benefits, or alternatives to cancer treatments
• Laboratory Errors: Mistakes in lab work, such as mislabeling or misinterpreting biopsy samples
• Misdiagnosis: Diagnosing a patient with the wrong type of cancer or another illness entirely
• Surgical Errors: Mistakes made during surgery, such as removing the wrong tissue or causing unnecessary harm

Mistakes with cancer diagnosis or treatment can also lead to the patient's death. In this case, their family can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.

Regardless of the type of malpractice, patients have the right to seek compensation. However, doing this involves multiple legal nuances. Failing to understand them could hurt the patient's chances of getting a fair payout. That is why it is important to consult a cancer malpractice lawyer in Suffolk County before taking legal action.

Damages in Cancer Malpractice Cases

After proving that cancer malpractice took place, the injured patient can recover several types of damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages include compensation for lost wages and medical costs. When filing a claim, the patient has the right to demand compensation for past, current, and future damages related to malpractice.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages, also called pain and suffering, compensate the patient for emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and pain. In many malpractice cases, the amount of non-economic damages exceeds the amount of economic damages.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages aim to punish the healthcare provider. If they demonstrated outrageously reckless behavior that led to serious damage, the judge may decide to award punitive damages to the patient.

In New York, there is not a cap on how much money an injured patient can recover in a malpractice lawsuit. The more evidence the Suffolk County lawyer can provide and the stronger the cancer malpractice case, the more damages it's possible to recover.

Consult an Experienced Suffolk County Cancer Malpractice Attorney Today

If you are a victim of malpractice, you have the right to receive compensation. Fighting for your money without legal assistance can be complicated, frustrating, and often counterproductive. That is why many patients choose to work with a seasoned Suffolk County cancer malpractice lawyer.

At Duffy & Duffy, we have decades of experience handling the most complicated medical malpractice cases. To schedule a consultation, please call us at any time.