Rochester Ovarian Cancer Failure to Diagnose Lawyers

While there is no shortage of personal injury attorneys in New York, not all are equally equipped to handle complex medical malpractice cases. Some of the reasons that you should consider hiring Powers & Santola, LLP as your medical malpractice legal team include our:

Experience

Powers & Santola, LLP has fought for personal injury and medical malpractice victims for over 30 years. We have successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in financial compensation for our deserving clients. 

Resources

Medical malpractice cases can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Not all personal injury law firms are equipped to handle the demands of these cases. But ours is. 

Powers & Santola’s legal team consists of eight experienced attorneys, five paralegals, and additional support staff. We also have a nationwide network of experts who can provide critical testimony in matters concerning medicine and economics. We are committed to providing our clients with the highest-quality legal representation. 

Knowledge 

Medical malpractice claims involve a complex intersection of the law and medicine. You need a knowledgeable lawyer who understands medical standards of care and how to prove that healthcare providers violated them. We have this intricate knowledge and also work with nationally-renowned medical experts who can provide further support in your case. 

Reputation 

Best Lawyers in America is the most trusted and relied-upon guide for identifying attorneys across the country. Powers & Santola, LLP has repeatedly been recognized by U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers in America as one of the country’s best personal injury and medical malpractice law firms. Additionally, individual personal injury attorneys at our law firm have been recognized as Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year and Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year.

Furthermore, five of our attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America, based on professional achievement and peer review. 

Our legal reputation is well known throughout the area, often influencing insurance companies to offer fair settlements. They know the results we have achieved and that every case we take has merit, so they are incentivized to offer a favorable settlement rather than risk going to trial. 

Personalized Attention

At Powers & Santola, LLP, we selectively accept a limited number of cases. This ensures that we can provide each client with the full and dedicated attention that they deserve. Our entire team concentrates on providing our clients with the service and support they need during one of the most difficult times in their lives. We are dedicated to helping after a medical professional’s mistake causes a life-altering effect. 

We welcome you to contact our personal injury and Rochester medical malpractice law firm for a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help with Your Case

Medical malpractice laws are primarily designed to protect hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. New York law requires personal injury victims to take the extra step of securing an affidavit that states a medical expert has been consulted and has found that the medical professional has deviated from the standard of care and harmed them as a result. Meeting the criteria of filing a medical malpractice case is high, and you will undoubtedly need an experienced lawyer to help you meet it. 

Our medical malpractice attorneys handle all aspects of your claim. When you hire us for your case, we:

• Investigate your case and identify all potential sources of compensation
• Advise you of your legal rights and options
• Discuss your individual needs and objectives with your case
• Identify why your doctor missed your ovarian cancer diagnosis
• Work with oncologists, ovarian cancer specialists, and other medical experts to further bolster your claim
• Build and accurately value your personal injury claim
• Negotiate with medical malpractice insurance companies for fair compensation
• Take your case to court if the healthcare provider refuses to offer fair compensation through a settlement 

We want you to focus on your health and recovery, so we take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can do so. Call us today for a free consultation.

What Is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in or near the ovaries grow and form tumors that spread to other parts of the body. They form in the egg-producing glands in the female reproductive system.

There are different types of ovarian cancer, which are based on where the original cancer cells are formed, as follows:

•  Epithelial tumors: These cancers start in the tissue that covers the ovaries. This is the most common type of ovarian cancer. 
•  Stromal tumors: These cancers start in ovarian tissue.
•  Germ cell tumors: These cancers start in egg-producing cells and are rare.  

Healthcare providers consider ovarian cancer as one of the most serious and fatal cancers affecting women. 

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer 

The initial symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and hard to catch, such as:

• Bloating
• Pain
• Changes in urination or bowel habits
• Fatigue

However, as the disease progresses, it may demonstrate more prominent signs, such as:

• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Pain during sex
• Back pain
• Upset stomach
• Abdominal bloating, cramping, or swelling
• Pelvic discomfort
• Reduced appetite 
• Feeling full quickly while eating
• indigestion
• Frequent urination
• Constipation
• Vaginal discharge
• Bleeding

Patients with a family history of ovarian cancer should be carefully screened for this disease. Other risk factors include:

• Older age
• Estrogen hormone replacement therapy
• Inherited gene mutation
• Being overweight or obese
• Endometriosis 
• Never having been pregnant 
• Beginning menstruation at a young age or starting menopause at a later age

How Ovarian Cancer Is Diagnosed

Currently, there is no routine screening process for the early detection of ovarian cancer, like there is for other types of cancer. However, if a patient has a family history of this disease or breast cancer at a young age or multiple generations of colon, prostate, or pancreatic cancer, their doctor should recommend genetic testing. 

Patients who experience the symptoms above should report them to their doctor, who should order diagnostic imaging and blood tests, which may reveal ovarian cancer. A surgical biopsy, in which a healthcare professional removes tissue believed to be diseased, can also help reach an accurate diagnosis.

Common Causes of Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnoses 

Medical oversights can lead to malignant tumors going unnoticed and allowing the disease to progress to more advanced stages. Untrained doctors may incorrectly attribute symptoms to less serious conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or urinary tract infections. When physicians ignore or miss symptoms, they may fail to order necessary diagnostic tests that could reveal the presence of cancer.

Additionally, doctors must take a patient’s family history and risk factors to alert them to the possibility of cancer. When they fail to do this, they can miss a serious condition and delay necessary care.

At Powers & Santola, LLP, some of the most common causes of ovarian cancer misdiagnosis tend to happen when a healthcare provider does any of the following:

• Failed to recommend genetic testing 
• Rushed care and didn’t notice symptoms
• Dismissed a patient’s symptoms or concerns
• Overlooked a patient’s risk factors
• Failed to perform a transvaginal ultrasound and biopsy
• Failed to order appropriate tests
• Failed to perform tests correctly
• Failed to read test results
• Made a specimen or biopsy collection error
• Interpreted test results incorrectly
• Reported or misinterpreted lab work incorrectly
• Failed to report test results to the patient in a timely manner
• Failed to order appropriate follow-up tests after an abnormal test result

Our medical malpractice attorneys can evaluate your case and identify the medical errors that resulted in your failed diagnosis.

Dangers of a Late or Delayed Diagnosis

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer that affects women. Early detection and treatment are critical to catching the disease early and giving patients the best chance at survival. The survival rate for ovarian cancer is much higher when the cancer has not progressed. Patients also have access to less invasive treatments during the early stages. 

When medical providers miss telltale signs of ovarian cancer or don’t listen to their patients’ concerns, the consequences can be catastrophic. If the cancer is allowed to progress, treatment options will be more limited and less effective. Unfortunately, this type of medical mistake can cost women their lives.

Financial Compensation You Can Pursue in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

If your doctor made a mistake that led to a delayed diagnosis of ovarian cancer, you should not have to struggle with additional financial costs. You may have legal grounds to file a medical malpractice claim if the doctor’s negligence caused the cancer to progress or for your prognosis to worsen. You may be entitled to compensation for the following:

• Medical bills you already incurred for medical tests, imaging studies, or seeking a second pathology opinion to confirm a cancer diagnosis after receiving a diagnostic error
• Future medical expenses for chemotherapy, radiation, surgical treatments, or other medical procedures to treat the illness
• Lost wages and loss of earnings you incurred due to your illness and related complications
• Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life

An experienced attorney from our law firm can discuss your situation during a free case evaluation. 

Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits in New York

The regular statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases in New York is two and a half years from the date of the medical mistake. However, there is a special rule in New York medical malpractice cases involving a late diagnosis of cancer, known as Lavern’s Law. Under this law, you have two and a half years from when you discovered or reasonably discovered the mistake, subject to a maximum of seven years from the negligent act. Understanding the time limit for filing a legal claim is critical to protecting your rights.

Contact Us Today for Legal Help Following a Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer

The failure to diagnose ovarian cancer is often a form of medical malpractice. Ovarian cancer is a life-threatening disease. A late diagnosis can make the difference between life and death. The experienced cancer misdiagnosis lawyers at Powers & Santola, LLP can review your case, explain your legal rights, and explore your options for seeking compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Our legal team wants to hold the negligent healthcare provider accountable for the harm they’ve caused. 

At Powers & Santola, LLP, our results speak for themselves. While prior results are no guarantee of future ones, our ability to secure some of the largest verdicts and settlements in New York history speaks volumes about our abilities. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation in our Rochester, New York office.