Doctors provide an invaluable service, but they sometimes make mistakes. These mistakes can lead to increased pain, unnecessary treatment, and even death. A common mistake is failing to diagnose a medical condition, such as ovarian cysts.
A handful of medical conditions can cause someone to have ovarian cysts. Some of these cysts don’t require treatment. However, doctors sometimes misdiagnose the condition, leaving a harmful ovarian cyst untreated. In these cases, the doctor might be liable for medical malpractice.
The lawyers at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico have ample experience in medical malpractice claims, including those involving misdiagnosis of ovarian cysts. As such, we often get questions like:
- Did my doctor commit malpractice?
- Can I sue for ovarian remnant syndrome, ovarian cancer, or other conditions my doctor fails to diagnose?
- How much compensation can I receive for a failure to diagnose?
Keep reading if you have similar questions, or call our office to get more precise answers for your individual circumstances.
What Are Ovarian Cysts?
Ovarian cysts are small, fluid-filled sacs that can form in a woman’s ovaries. About 10% of women experience these cysts. Ovarian cysts often happen as a natural part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Most of the time, they’re not harmful and don’t cause any problems.
However, they can grow bigger and cause discomfort or pain. Some cysts can affect hormonal function and cause other severe problems. The doctor may prescribe medicine or perform surgery to treat the cyst in these cases.
Can Ovarian Cysts Be Left Untreated?
In some cases, a doctor might not recommend treatment for a cyst. These cases usually involve benign cysts that form and disappear after a few weeks or months.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare providers fail to meet the expected standard of care in their profession. This failure leads to patient harm. Doctors owe a duty of care to their patients and must treat them with the same level of care a similar doctor would provide.
Can I Sue for Misdiagnosis of Ovarian Cancer?
Diagnosing ovarian cysts incorrectly can be an example of medical malpractice. Imagine your doctor tells you that an ovarian cyst is benign but doesn’t perform follow-up monitoring or a biopsy. Months later, you find out you have a cancerous ovarian cyst. You might be able to recover compensation from your doctor because of the incorrect diagnosis.
Can I Sue for Ovarian Remnant Syndrome If It Is Not Properly Diagnosed?
Yes, you may be able to sue a doctor who fails to diagnose you with ovarian remnant syndrome.
Ovarian remnant syndrome occurs when a doctor fails to remove a piece of ovarian tissue after a surgical procedure to remove one or both ovaries. This remnant tissue can produce hormones, which can cause cysts and pain. Ovarian remnant syndrome often requires surgery to remove the residual ovarian tissue.
Doctors should follow standard procedures to identify the cause of a cyst. For example, a doctor should ask if you’ve had ovarian surgery. If so, they should conduct anti-Muellerian and progesterone hormone testing. You may have a strong malpractice case if the doctor doesn’t conduct this test and you are later diagnosed with ovarian remnant syndrome.
Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Working with a medical malpractice lawyer is crucial to securing justice and compensation. Medical malpractice cases can be complex, especially when it comes to the nuances of an untreated ovarian cyst. An attorney understands the key issues in these disputes and the best ways to show when doctors are negligent.
Several of the attorneys at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico have spent their entire careers litigating medical malpractice cases. They have helped our clients hold doctors accountable and recover millions in compensation. Call today to schedule a consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys.
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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