Treatment Options for Skin Cancer

Baltimore Attorneys Representing Victims of Negligent Skin Cancer Treatment

Treatment options for skin cancer depend on numerous factors, including the type of cancer, its stage, the patient’s overall health, and whether the disease has metastasized. When physicians properly evaluate these elements, they can recommend and provide effective treatments that significantly improve the likelihood of recovery. However, when doctors fail to recognize, communicate, or administer appropriate treatment options for skin cancer, patients may suffer devastating consequences. Negligent care in the management of skin cancer can result in disease progression, disfigurement, and, in severe cases, loss of life. If you or a loved one suffered harm because a physician failed to recommend suitable treatment options for skin cancer, you may be entitled to recover damages, and you should talk to an attorney. The skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group are committed to advocating for patients harmed by substandard medical care, and if you hire us, we can help you seek the compensation you deserve.

The Importance of Appropriate Treatment Options for Skin Cancer

Treatment options for skin cancer must be carefully tailored to the patient’s diagnosis, as the disease encompasses several different types, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, the most aggressive form. For non-melanoma skin cancers, treatments such as surgical excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, cryotherapy, and topical medications can be highly effective when performed promptly. In cases of melanoma, however, early and aggressive treatment is often essential and may include wide excision surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, immunotherapy, or targeted drug therapy. The physician’s responsibility is to identify the type and extent of cancer and to provide or refer the patient for the appropriate treatments without unnecessary delay.

When physicians fail to offer proper treatment options for skin cancer, the patient’s health and prognosis can deteriorate rapidly. A delay in treating melanoma, for example, can allow the cancer to spread to vital organs, significantly reducing survival rates. Similarly, neglecting to recommend surgical removal of a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma can lead to extensive local tissue destruction, scarring, and severe infection. In some cases, doctors fail to inform patients of the full range of available treatment options or to refer them to specialists such as dermatologists or oncologic surgeons. These failures can cause patients to lose valuable time in the early stages of the disease, when treatment is most effective.

Establishing Negligence in a Maryland Medical Malpractice Claim

When a patient is harmed because a doctor fails to recommend appropriate treatment options for skin cancer, that patient may pursue a claim for medical malpractice. In Maryland, medical malpractice is based on negligence, which requires proof of four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.

The first element, duty, arises from the doctor-patient relationship. Once that relationship is established, the physician owes the patient a duty to exercise the level of care and skill that a reasonably competent doctor in the same field would provide under similar circumstances. For example, a dermatologist treating a suspicious skin lesion must act with the knowledge and diligence that another qualified dermatologist would demonstrate when diagnosing and treating the same condition.

The second element, breach, occurs when the physician’s care falls below the accepted standard. This may include failing to recommend a biopsy for a suspicious mole, neglecting to advise surgical removal of a confirmed carcinoma, or failing to refer a patient for oncologic evaluation following a melanoma diagnosis. A physician who delays initiating therapy or fails to follow established treatment protocols for skin cancer may be found to have breached their professional duty.

The third element, causation, requires the plaintiff to show that the physician’s breach directly caused their injury. In other words, the plaintiff must demonstrate that if the doctor had recommended or provided proper treatment, the outcome would likely have been better. This element often requires expert testimony from medical professionals who can explain how the deviation from the standard of care contributed to disease progression or worsened prognosis.

Finally, the plaintiff must establish damages. Damages encompass the actual harm suffered as a result of the malpractice, including medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical pain, emotional suffering, and, in fatal cases, wrongful death damages. Maryland law caps non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, but allows full recovery for economic losses. In cases where the physician’s conduct is particularly reckless or egregious, punitive damages may be available to deter future misconduct.

Consult a Dedicated Baltimore Medical Malpractice Attorney

The failure to recommend or provide appropriate treatment options for skin cancer can have life-altering and, in some cases, fatal consequences. If you or someone you love has suffered harm because a healthcare provider failed to recommend proper skin cancer treatment, it is essential to consult an attorney as soon as possible. The dedicated Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group are committed to holding healthcare providers accountable, and if we represent you, we can advise you of your options and aid you in seeking the best legal outcome possible. Our firm is based in Baltimore and represents clients throughout Maryland who have been harmed by negligent medical treatment. You can contact us at 410-889-1850 or through our online form to schedule a consultation.