Skin cancer is among the most visible forms of cancer, yet even with its outward signs, it can go undiagnosed. In many cases, early identification and removal of abnormal growths can stop skin cancer before it spreads. But when physicians overlook changes in a patient’s skin or fail to respond to complaints about suspicious moles or lesions, they risk allowing a treatable condition to progress into something far more dangerous. As such, monitoring for signs and symptoms of skin cancer is an essential part of comprehensive medical care that requires attention to detail, proper follow-up, and a willingness to act when changes occur. When such vigilance is absent, the consequences can be devastating. If you or a loved were hurt by a delay in diagnosis caused by inadequate monitoring for signs and symptoms of skin cancer, it is important to understand your rights, and you should talk to an attorney. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group have ample experience pursuing claims against negligent doctors, and if you hire us, we can help you understand your legal rights and pursue the maximum compensation recoverable.
Skin cancer may appear on the surface of the body, but its effects can reach far deeper. The most common types, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, are generally treatable when caught early. Melanoma, though, is far more aggressive and deadly, and early intervention is critical to survival. Monitoring for signs and symptoms of skin cancer includes evaluating new or changing moles, lesions that do not heal, skin discoloration, irregular borders, bleeding spots, or persistent itching or pain in specific areas. Physicians should take a detailed history, consider a patient’s risk factors such as sun exposure, fair skin, or a family history of skin cancer, and perform regular full-skin examinations when appropriate.
When a medical provider fails to investigate a visible abnormality or ignores a patient’s concern about a changing mole, the delay in diagnosis can lead to tragic outcomes. Skin cancer that is not identified in its early stages can spread to lymph nodes and internal organs, requiring more aggressive treatment such as wide excision surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. These treatments carry significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Patients may suffer from disfigurement, long-term side effects, and the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis that could have been addressed much earlier. A failure to properly monitor for signs and symptoms of skin cancer can transform what should have been a straightforward clinical intervention into a complex and painful medical ordeal.
Under Maryland law, patients have the right to expect that their healthcare providers will deliver care that meets accepted professional standards. When a provider fails in their duty to monitor for signs and symptoms of skin cancer and a patient is harmed as a result, that failure may give rise to a claim for medical malpractice.
Most medical malpractice lawsuits proceed on a theory of negligence. In Maryland, negligence is made up of four parts: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
The element of duty is established through the physician-patient relationship. Once a provider agrees to evaluate or treat a patient, they must meet the level of care expected of reasonably competent professionals in similar circumstances. A breach occurs when the provider does not meet this standard. For example, if a doctor fails to perform a biopsy on a mole that is asymmetrical, growing, and bleeding, this may constitute a deviation from the standard of care.
To prevail in a malpractice claim, a plaintiff must also prove causation. This means showing that the breach directly led to the harm the patient experienced. In skin cancer cases, causation often involves demonstrating that if the physician had responded to the warning signs promptly, the cancer would have been diagnosed at an earlier stage, significantly improving the patient’s prognosis. Generally, expert medical testimony is needed to explain both the standard of care and how the breach of that standard caused the patient’s injury. Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate damages. These may include the cost of medical care, both past and future, as well as lost income, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Monitoring for signs and symptoms of skin cancer is a basic yet crucial part of medical care. When providers fail to take visible symptoms seriously or ignore the progression of suspicious skin changes, they jeopardize their patients’ health and well-being. If you believe your provider caused you harm by failing to appropriately assess your signs and symptoms of skin cancer, you should talk to an attorney about your potential claims. The experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group have extensive experience holding negligent providers accountable in complex diagnostic error cases, and if you hire us, we will work tirelessly on our behalf. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we proudly serve clients throughout the city. To schedule a free consultation, contact us at 410-889-1850 or through our online form.
