Is Failure to Diagnose Melanoma Medical Malpractice?

The failure to diagnose melanoma involves a doctor miscalculating symptoms or circumstances that suggest the disease may be developing. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and can easily cause serious illness or death. Melanoma is one of those rare diseases that actually comes with advanced warning and symptoms, unlike some other forms of cancer.

The Skin Cancer Foundation states that if the development of this disease is diagnosed and treated (and there is no failure to diagnose the melanoma) that it is 100 percent curable. The key however is catching this disease in its early stages. When it is ignored or postponed then it is the fatal and incurable disease that everyone fears.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there were over 565,650 cancer deaths out of a possible 1,437,180 new cancer cases last year. These correspond to quotes from the same organization indicating a possible 8,420 fatalities occurred in the U.S. resulting from invasive melanoma out of a possible 62,480 reported cases. Since the medical industry believes that melanoma cancer is 100 percent curable if detected early, that means that thousands of people lost their life because of a failure to diagnose melanoma, or other medical malpractice-related reasons.
The Melanoma Center states that the highest risk factor in melanoma is genetics and race. Statistical data indicates that "fair skinned races are at greater risks than darker skinned races." Studies further showed that white Americans are 20 times more likely to develop melanoma than African Americans. The U.S. has also experienced a dramatic number of melanoma cases since 1973.
Every doctor owes his patient the absolute best and most attentive care. It is not the doctor's job to prevent melanoma from developing; however, it is the doctor's job to detect the disease early on, whenever symptoms or circumstances merit. As advanced as medical technology is nowadays, it's almost impossible to miss a melanoma diagnosis, considering how symptoms are rather blatant even in early stages.
The failure to diagnose melanoma, and the resulting death or serious illness of the patient, is a form of medical malpractice. It takes gross negligence to miss this important diagnosis as the doctor really has to go out of his way to fail to recognize the initial symptoms of this disease.
This is not to suggest that doctors are not human and prone to error. However, if a doctor does make such a costly and life-threatening mistake, you should not have to bear the burden. You or your family may be entitled to compensation, including damages for pain and suffering, medical bills and any therapy that might be involved later on.
If you have been a victim of a medical malpractice then it's time to contact a Dallas medical misdiagnosis lawyer. The Rasansky Law Firm has handled many cases where there has been failure to diagnose melanoma. This experienced law firm can guide you to a courtroom victory and give you the damages you deserve!