For many women, undergoing routine mammograms is a crucial part of proactive healthcare aimed at detecting breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. When these screenings are performed and interpreted correctly, they save lives. However, when a radiologist or physician misreads a mammogram, it can lead to delayed cancer diagnoses and missed opportunities for early intervention, which can significantly affect treatment outcomes and survival rates. Such oversights are grave mistakes that often warrant medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one sustained because of the misreading of a mammogram, you may be owed damages, and you should talk to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers are ready to help you pursue justice, and if we represent you, we will gather the evidence needed to help you seek the compensation you deserve.
The misreading of mammograms can have life-altering and, in some cases, fatal consequences. When radiologists or other healthcare providers fail to detect suspicious abnormalities, such as masses, microcalcifications, or tissue distortions, it can allow breast cancer to progress unchecked. The earlier breast cancer is identified, the more likely it is that less aggressive treatments, such as lumpectomy or targeted radiation, will be successful. Conversely, a missed or delayed diagnosis often results in the cancer advancing to later stages, requiring chemotherapy, mastectomy, or other invasive treatments, and decreasing the likelihood of survival.
Beyond physical harm, patients may also experience significant emotional and psychological trauma. Learning that a cancer diagnosis could have been made months or even years earlier can be profoundly distressing for both the patient and their family. In some tragic cases, the misreading of mammograms contributes to the loss of life, leaving families to cope with the preventable death of a loved one. Even when breast cancer is eventually diagnosed and treated, patients may face more complicated medical journeys and prolonged suffering due to delays caused by inaccurate interpretations of mammograms.
The misreading of mammograms frequently forms the basis for medical malpractice claims. Generally, a plaintiff pursuing such claims will aver the defendant was negligent. In Maryland, to prove a defendant’s negligence, the plaintiff must first demonstrate that the healthcare provider owed a duty and that the defendant breached the duty owed. A doctor’s obligation towards their patient is to abide by the standard of care, which means that they must offer the treatment a reasonable professional working in the same specialty would provide when faced with a similar situation. In most instances, demonstrating the standard of care and the ways in which the defendant deviated from the standard requires expert testimony. The plaintiff then must show that the defendant’s breach directly caused them to suffer measurable harm, which generally requires expert testimony as well.
If a plaintiff successfully establishes the defendant’s fault, they may be granted damages for their economic and non-economic losses. In Maryland, economic losses may include medical expenses for more aggressive treatment protocols, lost income, and diminished earning capacity. Non-economic losses, on the other hand, include pain, suffering, and emotional distress. In the most tragic cases, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims to seek recovery for funeral expenses and the loss of a loved one’s companionship and financial support.
The misreading of mammograms can irreversibly alter the course of a person’s life, robbing them of the chance for early detection and potentially curative treatment. If you or a family member has suffered due to a healthcare provider’s failure to properly interpret a mammogram, it is essential to seek legal guidance as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, our knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys have the skill and resources to hold negligent providers accountable, and if we represent you, we will help you pursue the full compensation available under Maryland law. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we proudly serve clients throughout the city. To discuss your case, contact us today at 410-889-1850 or reach out through our online form to arrange a free consultation.
