Failure to Diagnose Esophageal Cancer
Cancer of the esophagus, or esophageal cancer, affects thousands of Americans every year. A prompt diagnosis with proper treatment can effectively treat Esophageal Cancer. But when a doctor fails to diagnose Esophageal Cancer is can result in tragedy.
Indications of Esophageal Cancer are often indicated by difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, coughing, heartburn and other symptoms associated with less severe diseases. For this reason, it is important for gastroenterologists and other doctors to order appropriate tests when warning signs are present. Esophageal cancer is often detected through an X-ray test known as a barium swallow, endoscopy, or by using an esophagoscope.
There are risks to esophageal cancer screening, so a doctor should carefully weigh the risks associated with testing against the likelihood that you have esophageal cancer. The risk factors for developing esophageal cancer include:
– Certain lifestyle choices – alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet
– Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or other frequent reflux disorders
– Achalasia – esophageal sphincter won’t relax, causing difficulty swallowing
– Barrett’s Esophagus
– Radiation treatments
We Can Help
At O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, we are well versed on the particular circumstances unique to failure to diagnose Esophageal Cancer. The important piece for you to remember is that you—as a patient or representative of a loved one—are entitled to a very specific standard of care by your physician and related medical personnel.
We urge you to consult with us as soon as you suspect you have been subject to medical malpractice. We don’t expect you to come to us knowing all the answers—that’s our job. We are continually educating ourselves and keeping up to date with the most current legal changes and news so that we may better serve your needs. Our malpractice attorneys have the experience, expertise and breadth of knowledge to pursue failure to diagnose cancer cases of merit.