Prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, and early detection is critical to ensuring effective treatment and long-term survival. Unfortunately, too many patients suffer serious harm due to a prostate cancer misdiagnosis. When a healthcare provider fails to diagnose prostate cancer in a timely and accurate manner, the consequences can be devastating, both medically and emotionally. Prostate cancer misdiagnosis is not merely a clinical oversight; it can be a life-altering event that strips patients of treatment options and drastically worsens prognoses. If you were injured by a prostate cancer misdiagnosis, you may be eligible to pursue compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit, and you should talk to an attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys understand the toll medical negligence can take, and if you hire us, we will fight to help you seek justice.
Prostate cancer misdiagnosis can result from a variety of clinical errors. In many cases, physicians fail to order appropriate screening tests such as the prostate-specific antigen blood test or digital rectal examination, particularly in patients with elevated risk factors such as age, race, or family history. In other instances, abnormal test results may be dismissed or improperly interpreted, or a physician may fail to follow up on suspicious findings with further imaging or a biopsy. Misdiagnosis may also occur when cancer is incorrectly identified as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis, delaying the necessary oncological referral and treatment plan.
The consequences of prostate cancer misdiagnosis can be profound. When diagnosis is delayed, the disease may progress from a localized stage, where it is generally curable with surgery or radiation, to an advanced stage involving metastasis to bones or lymph nodes. At that point, treatment options become more limited, and the focus often shifts from cure to management. Patients may experience chronic pain, urinary dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and a significantly shortened life expectancy. In cases of false positives, patients may endure unnecessary biopsies, surgical procedures, or aggressive treatments such as radiation or hormone therapy, all of which carry serious physical and emotional risks.
Patients who suffer harm due to a prostate cancer misdiagnosis may be able to bring a medical malpractice claim against the responsible healthcare provider or institution. Generally, medical malpractice claims are rooted in the legal theory of negligence. To prevail in such a claim, under Maryland law, the plaintiff must prove four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
The first element, duty, arises from the doctor-patient relationship and obligates a physician to provide care consistent with the accepted standard of medical practice. This includes conducting appropriate screenings, accurately interpreting test results, and referring patients for further evaluation when warranted. Once a duty is established, the plaintiff must show that the provider breached this duty by failing to act as a reasonably prudent healthcare professional would have under similar circumstances. In prostate cancer cases, breach may involve not ordering a PSA test for a patient with known risk factors, ignoring a rising PSA level, or failing to biopsy a suspicious lesion seen on imaging.
The third element, causation, requires the plaintiff to demonstrate that the provider’s breach directly caused the patient’s injury or worsened outcome. This is often the most contested aspect of a medical malpractice case, and it typically requires expert testimony. Medical experts may testify that, had the cancer been diagnosed at an earlier stage, the patient’s prognosis would have been significantly better and the course of treatment less invasive. Conversely, in a false positive scenario, experts may explain how the patient suffered unnecessary harm from a procedure that would not have occurred if the correct diagnosis had been made. Lastly, the plaintiff must prove actual damages. These may include medical expenses, lost wages, costs of future care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life expectancy or quality of life.
Diagnostic errors involving cancer are among the most serious forms of medical negligence, and they can have irreversible consequences. If you or a loved one has suffered because of a prostate cancer misdiagnosis, you should talk to an attorney about your possible claims. At Arfaa Law Group, we fight to ensure that those harmed by avoidable medical mistakes receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Our knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to holding negligent healthcare providers accountable and advocating for the rights of patients across Maryland. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we serve clients throughout the city and the surrounding counties. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, contact us today at 410-889-1850 or reach out to us online.
