Failure to Diagnose Cervical Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, about 10,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. each year. This makes cervical cancer among the most common kinds of cancer affecting women. About 4,000 of these women will die from the disease, yet the survival rate is nearly 100 percent if it is detected and treated early.

The good news is that the fatality rate for cervical cancer has decreased about over the last 20 years. This is primarily due to more women obtaining yearly Pap exams. These tests are effective in detecting pre-cancerous cells in their early stages, which can be easily removed to prevent cervical cancer from developing.

Pap exams are not perfect, and false-negative results do occur. Computerized screening and liquid-based samples along with other technological improvements have reduced these risks, but not removed them entirely. In fact, it was a better understanding of the risk factors that prompted recommendations to extend screening for women without a history of cervical disease.

But despite the success in reducing cervical cancer, a significant number of Pap tests are not properly administered and results continue to be misread.

This is particularly tragic because cervical cancer is so preventable with today's modern treatments -- if detected early. Cervical cancer malpractice lawsuits are often due to the doctor's or lab technician's failure to:

Perform a Pap test when the patient shows cervical cancer symptoms
Properly conduct the Pap test
Do a biopsy of abnormal tissue found in a Pap test
Correctly interpret the results of the Pap test or biopsy
Identify visible cancerous cells during a cervical exam
Begin necessary treatment in a timely manner
Refer patient to gynecologic oncologist upon finding abnormal cervical cells, or pre-cancer cells, for additional examination and testing

Lack of patient education, however, can also contribute to a failure for early detection of cancer. Some women may not be as diligent in getting tested because they may understand a Pap test to be a diagnostic rather than a screening tool. A Pap smear is a blind sample of random cells. The test is intended to determine if closer examination is indicated.

If you or a loved one has suffered because of your physician's failure to diagnose or delay in diagnosing cervical cancer, then please contact us. We are experienced personal injury attorneys who handle serious medical malpractice claims.