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Rhode Island Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers

If diagnosed and treated properly, cancer patients have a high survival rate. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, however, a patient’s cancer can progress and become deadly.

Cancer Misdiagnosis: Medical Malpractice Lawyers RI

If medical personnel misdiagnose or delay diagnosing cancer because they failed to follow established protocols for testing patients, follow up on test results, or communicate information effectively, they can and should be held liable for their negligence.

Contact Gemma Law Associates: Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorneys

If you or a loved one experienced a missed, delayed, or incorrect diagnosis of cancer, the Rhode Island medical malpractice lawyers of Gemma Law Associates can examine your case and advise you about pursuing a legal claim.

How Does a Cancer Misdiagnosis Occur?

Tests and diagnostic tools are available to detect early cancer symptoms. Hospitals have protocols for testing patients who exhibit certain symptoms and for providing treatment based on test results. Patients’ cancer should be detected in almost all cases, and the patient should be promptly advised of their treatment options.

In most cases of cancer misdiagnosis, the patient’s cancer treatment is delayed. The delay can cause the disease to advance. It may result in a premature death.

A misdiagnosis of cancer can also take the form of an incorrect diagnosis. The patient may undergo unnecessary and harmful invasive treatment such as surgery. The patient may suffer both physical and emotional harm.

If you suspect that a medical professional improperly diagnosed or missed cancer in your case, Gemma Law Associates can help you obtain your medical records and have them reviewed by our medical consultants. There may be indicators that your physician or caregiver provided substandard care that caused the diagnosis of your cancer to be missed or delayed.

Your medical records might show evidence of:

  • A doctor failing to order tests or follow up on test results.
  • A physician’s assistant or nurse failing to obtain a complete medical history which could have alerted a physician to signs of cancer.
  • A dermatologist failed to order tests of irregular moles for skin cancer.
  • A dentist missing or failing to advise a patient of signs of mouth cancer.
  • A radiologist misreading a mammogram.
  • A pathologist misreading the results of a biopsy.
  • Mishandling of lab samples, including contamination of biopsied tissue.
  • A lab’s failure to accurately or promptly report test results.
  • Wrong test results or results for the wrong patient being reported.
  • Failure to promptly refer you to a specialist for treatment.

Who is Responsible for a Cancer Misdiagnosis?

Many different medical care providers may be responsible for misdiagnosed cancer, including:

  • Primary care physicians
  • Physicians’ assistants
  • Nurses
  • Radiologists
  • Pathologists
  • Dentists
  • Dermatologists

Sometimes, a hospital, medical center, or clinic may be liable for missed or delayed cancer diagnosis if its protocol was inadequate or outdated or if it can be shown that a repeated failure to follow protocol was recognized but not corrected.

Legal Steps: Contact Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorneys

If you have been harmed by a cancer misdiagnosis, you have the right to pursue a malpractice claim against the medical care provider involved with your case. A medical malpractice lawsuit can help you obtain compensation for your pain and suffering and your financial losses.

However, medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex. It takes time to develop the case. Rhode Island places strict time limits on filing medical malpractice claims, so it’s important to act immediately if you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one because of a missed cancer diagnosis.

A medical malpractice claim based on a cancer misdiagnosis would seek compensation for the patient’s losses, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

Many lawsuits can be settled without going to court. A settlement allows you to put the legal aspects of the case behind you sooner and get on with your life. A settlement also requires you, the plaintiff, to give up the right to any further legal claims against the defendants. You may settle a case at any time, even during trial, up until the jury returns its verdict.

Our Rhode Island Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Review Your Cancer Misdiagnosis

If you or a loved one has gone through the ordeal of a missed or delayed cancer diagnosis, you should discuss your case with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer from Gemma Law Associates, Inc. We provide free initial consultations.

Contact us today to learn more.


Serving the Greater Providence metro area, including Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, North Providence, South Kingston, Coventry, Cumberland, Woonsocket, and East Providence.

Gemma law is the best and helped and guided me threw everything … highly recommended thank you so much
ellen almgren
ellen almgren
2023-02-09
5 stars all the way. They did exactly what was expected. Good Job
Keith Ruggiero
Keith Ruggiero
2023-02-04
Very efficient and very good with communicating with me. I received updates about my case without having to call and request them. Very good law office! Very satisfied.
Bethania Herrera
Bethania Herrera
2023-01-19
Mark Gemma has been absolutely amazing. He was helpful and answered all concerns and questions I’ve had. Him and his team are beyond incredible, supportive, and sweet. I would like to thank them all for everything they’ve done.
Samantha Argus
Samantha Argus
2023-01-19
very professional and honest, what I liked the most is whenever you call the lawyer returns your call with every concern I had. It was my first time and I would not hesitate to trust them again.
Diana Palacio
Diana Palacio
2023-01-17
This team is extremely helpful and kind. Mark Gemma was a great help in guiding me through this whole process and was a huge help. I would recommend this team to anyone seeking legal counsel
Zachary Dustin
Zachary Dustin
2023-01-16
I am so happy with the turnout of my case. Both Sarah and Peter kept me up to date on everything and worked very hard on my case. The whole staff is friendly and diligent with their work. 100% recommend!
Chelsie Abatiello
Chelsie Abatiello
2022-12-28
Managed to get my money before Christmas...in just days after settling! Great communication and always helped with my needs, and always gave good advice. Would definitely recommend.
Trini Luckey
Trini Luckey
2022-12-23
Always professional and always checking in on their clients. Excellent atmosphere.
Susan Hallam
Susan Hallam
2022-12-17
After spending 8 hours in a hospital overnight to get stitches in my lip because of a drunk driver’s negligent decision to get behind the wheel, the last thing I wanted to do was think about it all. I sent an email to Gemma Law, and Mark Gemma quickly called me back with an empathetic approach to listening to my story and helping me figure out the next steps. When he told me I wouldn’t have to have any contact with the insurance companies, I was HOOKED! When he pointed out how unfortunate it was I might have to miss out on a lip modeling career from a potential scar from the stitches, I was SOLD! And when I finally received my settlement check after letting him do all the leg work while I just focused on recovering, I was and am eternally GRATEFUL! Mark Gemma helped me turn a near death experience into a new start in life and I highly recommend him to anybody needing a personal injury lawyer.
Angie Sherman
Angie Sherman
2022-12-07
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