Learning that you have been misdiagnosed with lymphoma can be devastating.
If you or someone you love was recently misdiagnosed with lymphoma, you may be able to hold the doctor and medical professionals liable.
Proving a misdiagnosis medical malpractice claim can be challenging, so you can significantly benefit from the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Common Symptoms of Lymphoma
It is essential to know the symptoms of lymphoma because they can often mimic other diseases and illnesses.
This is one of the main reasons lymphoma is often misdiagnosed. Common lymphoma symptoms include:
- Cough,
- Fever,
- Fatigue,
- Chest pain,
- Trouble breathing,
- Itchy skin,
- Night sweats,
- Swollen lymph nodes,
- Swelling in the abdomen, and
- Unexplained weight loss.
If you are reading this list and thinking these symptoms could be signs of many illnesses and diseases, you are correct, which makes the proper diagnosis so crucial.
Two Common Types of Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system and occurs when a white blood cell develops a mutation.
According to medical experts, there are over 70 types of lymphoma. However, the two are most common:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common and can be treated with various treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplantation.
- Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is also commonly called Hodgkin’s disease and is considered one of the most curable types of cancer. It can be treated with similar treatments to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Sadly, the misdiagnosis of lymphoma, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma, occurs often because its symptoms closely resemble those of other diseases.
Can Lymphoma be Misdiagnosed?
Lymphoma may go undetected or be misidentified if a doctor confuses its symptoms with those of another condition and omits conducting necessary tests like biopsy or blood analysis.
What Can Lymphoma Be Misdiagnosed As?
Lymphoma can be misdiagnosed as influenza, HIV, infections, and mononucleosis, among many other diseases.
However, a thorough battery of tests should rule out other illnesses.
Unfortunately, sometimes doctors and other medical professionals can disregard symptoms or misinterpret test results.
How Is Lymphoma Misdiagnosed?
Medical malpractice claims involving cancer, including lymphoma, usually involve three scenarios:
- Failure to diagnose. The failure to diagnose lymphoma is precisely as it sounds. The doctor failed to diagnose the disease. For instance, the doctor may have missed or misinterpreted your symptoms or test results.
- Delayed diagnosis. A delay in the correct diagnosis can lead to catastrophic consequences. A delayed diagnosis can stem from, among other things, a delay in ordering a biopsy, a delay in a referral, or a delay in reading test results.
- Misdiagnosis. A misdiagnosis or an incorrect diagnosis can lead to unnecessary and painful treatments (e.g., chemotherapy). A misdiagnosis for a cancer you do not have can have crippling consequences.
How often is lymphoma misdiagnosed? The answer is more frequent than you might think. If you believe you are a victim, contact us.
Maryland Medical Misdiagnosis Lawsuit: What You Need to Know
As the plaintiff, you have the burden to prove your case, and under Maryland law, you must first file an arbitration claim and a certificate of a qualified expert attesting to the breach in the standards of care.
You must also act relatively quickly when contemplating filing a lawsuit.
In Maryland, you typically have just three years from the date the misdiagnosis and resulting injury was discovered or five years from the date your injury occurred, whichever is earlier.
Misdiagnosis cases can be complicated and complex, and these timeframes will play a pivotal role in whether you can successfully pursue a claim.
Maryland Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Lymphoma misdiagnosed? Our compassionate and professional team is here to help you and your family through this difficult process.
We have decades of experience and a long list of impressive results obtaining our clients the compensation they deserve. Contact us at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico today.
Phil Federico is a partner at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico where he helps lead the Mass Tort / Class Action and Environmental Law practices, transitioning into these areas after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator.
Phil has led and been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigation with verdicts and settlements exceeding one billion dollars.
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