SKIN CANCER : MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS

Skin Lesions

Your general practitioner should be consulted as soon as any changes in the skin are noticed. Skin lesions and marks can appear for many different reasons, but if lesions remain for more than two months then there is a chance that the cause is skin cancer. Legions that heal within that time are more likely to be the result of reactions to substances that you have come into contact with.

Diagnosis

The only way a doctor can be certain of the presence of skin cancer is to take a biopsy under local anaesthetic and microscopically examine the tissue sample. If you have presented to the doctor with skin disturbances that were present for a lengthy period of time that subsequently are diagnosed as skin cancer and your doctor didn’t use adequate diagnostic procedures at an early stage then the doctor in question has failed in his or her duty of care.

Biopsy

Because of the potential danger of skin cancer most patients who present to their general practitioner with suspicious skin problems, especially on the hands or face which are exposed to the sun, will be referred to a consultant dermatologist without delay. Some NHS hospitals have on site surgeries that can deal immediately with small biopsies under the supervision of a consultant skin specialist. Biopsies can be carried out by shaving a layer of skin from the area or by removing a deeper area of tissue using a needle-like device or by making a incision in the area and surgically removing a piece of tissue using a scalpel.

False Positive

Sometimes a false-positive can result from these tests and a misdiagnosis can be made when patients do not actually have skin cancer. This may result in unnecessary radical treatment that is dangerous and uncomfortable. Unnecessary treatments, such as radiotherapy and repeated scans can have long lasting damaging effects on the health of an individual and such effects become all the more upsetting when there was no need for them in the first instance. The emotional stress and worry that results from such a diagnosis can have lasting effects on a patient.

Free Legal Advice

Our solicitors offer free advice either personally or on the telephone for whatever length of time is necessary to establish whether you have a reasonable case and they will also give advice on the claims procedure and how much compensation may be awarded. If after discussing your matter you do not wish to proceed further then you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for the initial advice.