Cancer negligence, the medical negligence suffered when you have cancer, can happen at any stage of your cancer journey. You may have a cancer negligence compensation claim for the impact on your life following the medical negligence in your treatment.

Cancer negligence can be a late diagnosis of cancer, leading to the disease spreading to other organs. You may suffer the medical negligence of a missed diagnosis of skin cancer or a misdiagnosis of stomach cancer as a digestive issue, and have a medical negligence claim for compensation.

Medical negligence is care by a medical professional below the standard of care that any other medical professional would provide in similar circumstances. If a medical professional breaches their duty of care to you when you have cancer, it may be cancer negligence.

Ross Aldridge No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitors in Cheltenham can make your cancer negligence claim for compensation.

What is cancer negligence?

Cancer negligence is medical negligence with your cancer treatment. Your doctor owes you a duty of care, and negligence in your cancer treatment may be a breach of that duty of care, leading to an injury and a compensation claim.

Research shows that there are around 200 different types of cancer. In the UK, almost 1 in every 2 people will get cancer at some stage during their lives. Nearly 1,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every day. 35% of all cancers are diagnosed in people over 75, which means 65% of people with a cancer diagnosis are under 75 and need a correct cancer diagnosis and treatment path. 

Cancer is treatable, and many people recover, but cancer negligence can affect your chances of recovery. If you have a late diagnosis of cancer, it may reduce your chances of surviving cancer, and any medical negligence in cancer treatment will affect your recovery.

Ross Aldridge Solicitors will look at the details of your possible cancer negligence and see if you have a cancer medical negligence compensation claim.

Common claims for cancer negligence

Common claims for cancer negligence range from the missed diagnosis of cancer at an early stage to errors during cancer treatment and misdiagnosis of cancer in children.

If the doctor treating you does not make a correct diagnosis of cancer, it can delay treatment and reduce survival chances.

You make a cancer negligence claim for the impact of the medical negligence on your life and that of your family.

Common cancer negligence claims in England

  • Misdiagnosis of cancer negligence claims

  • Missed diagnosis of cancer negligence claims

  • Failure to refer cancer negligence claims

  • Late diagnosis of cancer negligence claims

  • Failure to treat cancer negligence claims

Misdiagnosis of cancer negligence claims

Misdiagnosis of cancer negligence claims are for when the doctor misdiagnoses cancer as another condition. 

Types of misdiagnosis of cancer negligence:

  • Misdiagnosis of stomach cancer as an ulcer

  • Misdiagnosis of skin cancer as dermatitis

  • Misdiagnosis of spinal cancer as a disc problem

You can make a misdiagnosis of cancer negligence claim against the doctor treating you when you are ill.

Failure to refer cancer negligence claims

A failure to refer cancer negligence claim may happen when the doctor or nurse treating you does not refer you to another consultant for diagnosis or for further treatment.

Types of failure to refer cancer claims:

  • Failure by the GP to refer a possible case of cancer to an oncologist

  • Failure by the A&E doctor to refer you to an oncologist

  • Failure by the oncologist to refer you to another cancer specialist

The failure to refer can affect diagnosis and cancer treatment, and may be part of a cancer negligence claim.

Late diagnosis of cancer negligence claims

Late diagnosis of cancer claims are when the doctor treating you makes a diagnosis of cancer much later than they should do after cancer screening tests.

Types of late diagnosis of cancer claims:

  • An oncologist makes a late diagnosis of cancer despite positive cancer tests

  • An oncologist makes a late cancer diagnosis after surgery for other issues

  • Late diagnosis of cancer after failed treatment for suspected bowel problems

The late diagnosis of cancer negligence delays treatment and could put the patient’s life at risk.

Failure to treat cancer negligence claims

Failure to treat cancer negligence claims are for the medical negligence before, during and after the cancer diagnosis.

You expect and need cancer treatment when diagnosed with cancer, and not medical negligence.

Types of failure to treat cancer negligence claims:

  • The oncologist fails to treat a case of skin cancer after diagnosis

  • The doctor fails to prescribe the correct cancer drugs

  • The oncology nurse administers an incorrect dose of chemotherapy drugs

You may have a cancer negligence claim for the effects of the failure to treat you when you could have cancer.

Ross Aldridge medical negligence solicitors can be by your side and help make a cancer negligence claim for compensation.

Compensation in a Cancer Negligence Claim

Compensation in a cancer negligence claim can range from the low £10,000s in some claims to over £10 million in claims for missed diagnosis and even the death of a patient.

The compensation awarded in a medical negligence claim can vary depending on how much discomfort and disruption you experience in your life today and in the future due to the medical negligence.

Many cancer negligence claims result in very high awards, as a misdiagnosis of cancer or negligence in your cancer treatment can be fatal.

Compensation for cancer medical negligence can see claims of:

  • Misdiagnosis of cancer by the oncologist -£95,200

  • Undiagnosed stomach cancer due to failure to refer for testing – £110,000

  • Missed diagnosis of skin cancer leads to a fatal case of cancer – £116,500

  • Cancer treatment errors put a young life in danger – £125,400

  • Death of young patient due to cancer negligence- £131,800

(The figures given here are for General Damages, the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity following an injury due to cancer negligence by a medical professional. In the medical negligence claim, you may also receive compensation for any financial losses, the Special Damages you suffer due to the cancer negligence.)

As in all medical negligence claims, each case is dealt with according to the facts and the details of the individual patient.

Ross Aldridge No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitors can advise you on a cancer negligence claim and can help you form a successful compensation claim.

What can you claim for in a Cancer Negligence Claim?

In a cancer negligence claim, you claim compensation for any damages that occurred while under the care of a medical professional. You claim compensation for the misdiagnosis of cancer and treatment errors due to a breach of duty of care.

There are two types of compensation damages due when claiming for any kind of medical negligence, such as Cancer Negligence:

General Damages in a Cancer Negligence claim are for any pain, suffering and loss of amenity, PSLA, you have experienced due to the misdiagnosis of bowel cancer or any form of cancer negligence.

  • Pain is what you suffer above what would be a standard spectrum of pain for the condition you have and for a person with your medical history.
  • Suffering is the unnecessary discomfort you go through following the errors made by the cancer doctor when treating you.
  • Loss of Amenity is the difficulty in carrying out your everyday activities, such as walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping, after the cancer negligence.

 

Special Damages in a cancer negligence claim are for the loss of earnings, other out-of-pocket expenses and financial costs due to the medical negligence. 

  • Loss of earnings includes compensation for time off work and any reduction of your income in the future. 
  • Financial costs are for any care you will need arising from the medical negligence by an oncologist or any medical professional treating you at any stage of the cancer journey.
  • Out-of-pocket expenses cover medical appointments, travel, accommodation, and meals.

You will need to keep all receipts for all expenses, such as payments for meals, any hotel stays and travel to and from medical appointments.

Your solicitor can make a compensation claim to cover your losses due to the costs and long-term care needs after negligence in your cancer treatment.

When you or a loved one suffers due to cancer negligence, you can claim medical negligence compensation.

Ross Aldridge Solicitors will be with you when making a claim for cancer negligence in England.

How to make a claim for cancer negligence

To make a claim for cancer negligence, you can follow our simple steps developed from our years of experience in medical negligence.
The steps in a cancer negligence claim go from seeking medical advice to issuing court proceedings.

The steps are used by our specialist legal experts when making a successful medical negligence compensation claim.

A Ross Aldridge medical negligence solicitor will guide you through the steps and will be with you from day one when making the cancer negligence claim.

When you seek medical advice on the cancer medical negligence, you are getting a second opinion from another medical professional on the possible negligence in your cancer treatment. 

You need to work with a medical negligence solicitor, and you need to have one by your side from day one.

When you sit down with a Ross Aldridge No Win No Fee solicitor, you can tell them your story in confidence and where the cancer negligence may have happened.

The solicitor will see where the problem started and advise if you have a valid medical negligence claim.

If we believe you have a valid claim, we can move on to the next step.

Getting your medical records, with your permission, is a vital part of forming the cancer negligence claim.

Your medical records should confirm where and when the cancer negligence happened, but they can also confirm if you have a valid medical negligence claim and the chances of you receiving compensation.

The letter of claim for cancer medical negligence will be written by the legal expert and sent to the negligent party. In a letter of claim, we outline where we believe the cancer negligence happened and its impact on your life.

Sending the letter of claim is the first step in the legal battle with the negligent party, and they have four months to send a response in writing. The written response is usually from the insurance company.

The written response for the medical negligence insurance company will show how the compensation claim is likely to proceed.

If the negligent party admits liability in your cancer negligence claim, Ross Aldridge solicitors can value your claim for medical negligence. We can then meet with the insurance company to determine a compensation payment. We will know from experience what you deserve in compensation.

If they decide to defend the case in what is known as ‘deny liability’ in legal terms, we can then advise you on the next step to further the compensation claim.

Issuing court proceedings is the final step when the insurance company continues to refuse your cancer negligence claim.

You may also need to go to court if they admit their liability but will not offer a fair amount in compensation.

The Ross Aldridge medical negligence solicitor issues the court proceedings on your behalf.

We will represent you in court and be by your side from day one.

Ross Aldridge Solicitors have the experience to fight the medical negligence claim for you and get your compensation for the cancer negligence.

Fatal cancer negligence

Fatal cancer negligence happens when the medical negligence in your cancer diagnosis and treatment is only discovered when the cancer has spread too far in your body.

You may be able to make the fatal cancer negligence claim before you pass away, or a family member can make it on your behalf.

When a medical professional breaches their duty of care to a loved one and they die of cancer due to the fatal medical negligence, you may take a compensation claim on their behalf.

Loved ones in a fatal cancer negligence case are known as ‘dependents’ and can be:

  • A spouse or former spouse of the injured person

  • Someone who lived with the patient for two years as a husband, wife, or civil partner.

  • Blood children, adopted children or those who became children through marriage or civil partnership

  • Parents and those acting as parents, such as a guardian or step-parents

  • Grandparents or great-grandparents

  • Brothers, sisters, cousins, and other direct relatives

A Ross Aldridge medical negligence solicitor can be with you when making a fatal cancer negligence claim.

Make a Cancer Negligence Claim Today

Make a cancer negligence claim today by contacting Ross Aldridge Solicitors in Cheltenham.

Ross Aldridge Solicitors have the experience of making cancer negligence claims throughout southern England.

A cancer negligence claim can get compensation for the medical negligence before, during and after you get a cancer diagnosis.

Ross Aldridge Solicitors fight all medical negligence compensation claims on a No Win No Fee basis.

Contact Ross Aldridge Solicitors in Cheltenham to make a cancer negligence compensation claim today.

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