Delayed diagnosis means there is an unnecessary delay between when a patient first presents with clear symptoms or signs of cancer and when doctors make an accurate diagnosis. This delay is typically longer than what would be considered reasonable or standard in medical practice for identifying the specific type of cancer involved. This is why delayed diagnosis could be the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
A delayed diagnosis does not necessarily mean a complete failure to diagnose. It can include cases where:
The diagnosis is eventually made, but later than it should have been
Initial misdiagnosis is later corrected to a cancer diagnosis
Symptoms are dismissed or attributed to other conditions for an extended period before cancer is considered
The definition of a delay may be different for different types of cancer. For example, a delay could be a much shorter time for a more aggressive form of cancer. Meanwhile, a delay could be a longer period for a slower-growing cancer.
It is important to note that not all delays in diagnosis are due to medical negligence or error. Sometimes, the nature of the disease itself can make timely diagnosis challenging. That is why patients who think their delayed diagnosis was due to malpractice should contact an experienced lawyer.