Cervical Cancer Claims

Cervical cancer negligence lawyers

While cervical cancer screening is highly effective in detecting abnormalities early, the signs of cervical cancer are still sometimes missed or misdiagnosed as another condition. If this has happened to you and you have suffered as a result, Osbornes’ legal experts can help you claim the compensation you deserve.

Almost3,300 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK. While NHS screening and HPV vaccines have helped prevent thousands of cases, mistakes and delays in diagnosis do still occur. This can have serious consequences. Any delay in treatment can allow cervical cancer to spread and become harder to treat.

If you have suffered harm due to:

• The misdiagnosis of cervical cancer
• Delays in diagnosis, or
• Receiving the wrong treatment

You may be entitled to make a cervical cancer compensation claim. No amount of compensation can undo what has been done, but it can help support you and your family during your recovery.

What is cervical cancer negligence?

According to Cancer Research, almost all (99.8%) cervical cancer cases in the UK are preventable. The vast majority are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) infections, which is why it is so important to attend regular screenings. Smear tests can detect early signs of infection and cervical abnormalities.

However, even with the availability of screenings and treatment options, there are times when a cervical cancer diagnosis can be missed. This might be because:

• Your doctor failed to examine you properly
• Your doctor failed to connect your symptoms to cervical cancer
• You were not referred for further testing (e.g. HPV test, pap smear, colposcopy)
• Tests were not performed properly, or samples were mishandled
• Test results were misinterpreted or ignored
• No one followed up on abnormal results or failed to inform you of them
• Your symptoms were misdiagnosed as another condition
• Your doctor did not follow the correct screening-to-referral pathway, leading to a delayed diagnosis or delays in treatment
• Mistakes were made in your treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy

If you or a loved one has had cervical cancer misdiagnosed or a diagnosis delayed for any reason, contact us to see if you’re able to claim compensation.

What are the risks of a cervical cancer misdiagnosis?

We are lucky in the UK that the vast majority of patients suffering from cervical cancer receive an early diagnosis and a high standard of care.

However, mistakes do happen, and the consequences can be severe. For example:

• There may be fewer treatment options available if the cancer has been allowed to progress.
• Treatment options may be more aggressive, such as higher chemotherapy doses, extended radiation, or a radical hysterectomy.
• Life expectancy may be reduced if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
• Patients may suffer from psychological distress due to a delayed diagnosis and fear of what lies ahead.

If you have suffered harm like this, and you believe that medical negligence may have been involved, it is important to seek legal advice.

Ourcancer misdiagnosis lawyers are specialists in cervical cancer claims. We are here to help you and your family when you need it most.

What counts as a delayed cervical cancer diagnosis?

Many of the symptoms of cervical cancer are common issues for women to experience. A GP may not immediately suspect cervical cancer when a patient presents with symptoms like those listed below, especially if the patient is young and has no previous history of abnormal pap smears or family history of the disease:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding between periods or after menopause
• Pelvic or lower back pain
• Persistent abnormal discharge
• Abdominal pain or bloating
• Frequent/ urgent urination
• Blood in the urine

However, there are certain red flags that should alert a doctor to the possibility of cervical cancer. Patients presenting with these symptoms should receive an urgent cancer check within 2 weeks, and cancer should be confirmed or ruled out within 28 days of the referral. This is part of theNHS’s diagnostic standards for cancer.

If this does not happen and you later learn you have cervical cancer, it is possible that medical negligence has occurred and you have a claim for compensation.

How do you prove cervical cancer misdiagnosis?

To claim cervical cancer compensation, you need to be able to prove that a medical professional failed to meet their duty of care. Generally, this means they failed to follow standard medical protocols and guidelines, or they acted in a way that a competent medical professional would not have in the same situation.

The second thing we have to show is the doctor’s negligence caused harm or injury to the patient. This can be difficult to prove in cervical cancer cases. Since cancer is a progressive disease, we rely on expert medical opinions to determine if the patient’s outcome would have been different if they had received the proper treatment.

Visit ourcancer misdiagnosis guide for further information on how to prove and make a claim.

How much compensation could I receive for a cervical cancer claim?

There isn’t a fixed amount of compensation for cervical cancer misdiagnosis because every case is unique. When you work with us, our priority is to secure a fair compensation amount that reflects the challenges you’ve faced, both physically, emotionally and financially. Typically, compensation may cover the following:

• Medical expenses you’ve had to pay
• Costs for palliative care and rehabilitation
• Counselling and support services
• Loss of earnings while undergoing treatment
• Future loss of income if the cancer has impacted your ability to work
• Loss of income for a loved one who has become your carer
• Travel expenses if your condition has made it difficult to drive
• Pain and suffering you’ve endured

Our team has successfully helped many individuals receive compensation, with some cases resulting in settlements exceeding seven figures. If you’d like to discuss your case, please contact us for a confidential and no-obligation conversation.

Can I claim cervical cancer compensation on behalf of someone who died?

We can help the spouse, children or dependents of a woman who sadly lost her life to this disease claim compensation. Please visit our dedicatedfatal medical negligence claims page for further information.

If someone dies due to medical negligence, the NHS Trust involved may carry out an internal patient safety investigation to understand what happened and improve care. In some cases, a coroner’s inquest may also be opened to investigate the circumstances of the death. These investigations are usually welcomed as they provide an opportunity to uncover the truth and ensure that practices are changed for the better. However, they can also be emotionally taxing for families who are still grieving the loss of their loved one.

Even if you do not wish to make a claim, we can support you in navigating the inquest process. Our solicitors make sure the right questions are asked to get the answers your family needs.

Why should I choose Osbornes Law?

Our medical negligence lawyers are among the best in the country. We are highly ranked in independent legal guides such as Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500, and have a proven record in securing top settlements for cancer patients. Many of our lawyers have medical backgrounds, giving us a unique insight into the complexities of cancer misdiagnosis cases.

The process starts with a free consultation, during which we can explain:

• Whether you have a valid claim
• How you cervical cancer misdiagnosis claim will be handled
• What the process will involve
• How much your claim may be worth
• How our no win no fee agreements work

To speak with one of our cancer misdiagnosis solicitors, contact us by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811