Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosis Compensation Claims

This guide will explain when you might be eligible to claim compensation for an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis.

ovarian cancer misdiagnosis

Ovarian cancer misdiagnosis claims guide

All medical professionals owe a duty of care to their patients. As such, they must meet the correct standard of care when treating them.

In some cases, they may fail to do so, causing you to sustain additional harm or harm that could have been avoided. If you have experienced harm as a result of negligence, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

This guide will provide examples of how a misdiagnosis of cancer could occur. We will also explore the impact a misdiagnosis could have on your quality of life and financial situation.

Furthermore, you might be wondering about the medical negligence claims process. If so, this guide could help by looking at the steps you could take following an incident of negligence in a medical setting, such as GP negligence or hospital negligence.

We hope this guide provides you with the information you need. However, if you need any questions answering, you can contact our team of advisors. To get in touch, you can:

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Can Doctors Misdiagnose Ovarian Cancer?

Medical professionals, such as doctors, must provide the correct standard of care when treating you. However, if they fail to do so, they may be negligent. If you are harmed as a result of their negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.

There are instances when a doctor may fail to provide care that meets the minimum standard. For example, they might fail to send you for further tests despite your symptoms warranting investigation. As a result, they may misdiagnose you with a different condition, leading to your cancer symptoms becoming worse due to delayed treatment for the correct condition.

However, not all cases of an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis could lead to you being able to make a claim.

In instances where a medical professionals negligence has caused you harm, you could claim. However, you can only claim for the additional harm or complications you have experienced, not the original condition.

Ovarian Cancer Statistics

According to Cancer Research UK, between 2016 and 2018, there were:

  • 7,495 new cases of ovarian cancer in the UK.
  • 4,142 deaths in the UK.

Additionally, there is a 35% survival rate and 11% of cases are preventable.

What Are The Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that affects the ovaries. According to the NHS, ovarian cancer symptoms might include:

  • Bloating
  • Swollen stomach
  • Pain and tenderness in the stomach area
  • Loss of appetite
  • Indigestion
  • Unintentional weight loss

If you don’t get your symptoms checked, it can delay you in receiving a diagnosis and cause a delay in treatment. As such, it’s important that you visit your doctor if you have symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors

There are various causes of ovarian cancer but there may be certain factors that increase your chances of developing the condition. As per the NHS, these might include:

  • Your age
  • Previously having breast cancer or bowel cancer
  • Previously having radiotherapy for cancer
  • Having another gynecological condition such as endometriosis

How Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosis Could Happen

There are various ways an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis could occur. Examples might include:

  • A GP may have failed to refer you for further tests despite the symptoms you exhibited making it necessary for them to do so.
  • The results of a blood test or other diagnostic test may have been misinterpreted.
  • You may have exhibited symptoms that were similar to another condition. However, your doctor may have failed to carry out tests to provide the correct diagnosis. As a result, you may have been misdiagnosed with a different condition, such as an ovarian cyst.
  • You may have received someone else’s test results due to an admin error.

It’s not always possible to claim when cancer is misdiagnosed. You can only claim compensation if medical negligence caused you harm due to a misdiagnosis. For more information on when you could make a misdiagnosis negligence compensation claim, call our team.

Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosis Compensation Calculator

You may be wondering how much compensation you can receive following a successful claim for harm sustained after a negligent ovarian cancer misdiagnosis.

Generally, your settlement may comprise general damages and special damages. Each seeks to compensate for the different way the harm you sustained has impacted your life.

General damages seek to compensate for the pain and suffering caused by the harm you sustained as a result of negligence. In order to accurately calculate the value of this head of claim, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which sets out guideline compensation amounts for different injuries, may be referred to.

The table below contains figures from the most recent edition of the JCG, published in April 2022. However, the final amount of compensation you receive depends on many factors.

For example, you may be invited to attend an independent medical exam to have your condition assessed. This can provide those valuing your claim with more of an insight into the nature of the harm you sustained and the long term impact it may have had on your quality of life.

As such, you should only use the figures below as a guide because they will differ to the settlement you receive.

Injury DamagesCompensation
Female reproductive system (A)£114,900 to £170,280
Infertility due to disease or injury. There are several issues resulting from this, such as sexual dysfunction, anxiety, depression, pain and scarring.
Female reproductive system (B)£43,010 to £102,100
This bracket includes cases that result in significant medical complications, such as multiple surgeries.
Female reproductive system (C)£56,080 to £71,350
Where the person is infertile but with no aggravating features or sexual dysfunction in a young person who doesn't have children.
Female reproductive system (D)£17,960 to £36,740
In this bracket, there are no medical complications associated with infertility and in the injured person will have already had children.
Female reproductive system (E)£6,610 to £18,680
The person is infertile but won't have had any children after the event for reasons such as age.
Female reproductive system (F)£3,390 to £20,430
Where the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy was delayed but fertility has not been impacted.
Bowel (B)Up to £150,110
Where the person has completely lost natural function and depends on a colostomy.
Bowel (C)In the region of £79,920
The person will experience faecal urgency and passive incontinence after surgery.
Bladder (B)Up to £140,660
Where there has been a total loss of function and control.
Bladder (C)£63,980 to £79,930
Where control has been seriously impaired and there is pain and incontinence.

You may also receive special damages which compensates for the financial losses incurred as a result of injuries. Examples of these costs and losses might include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Travel costs
  • Care costs
  • Loss of income

For more information, you can call our team about what your medical negligence compensation settlement could comprise.

Get Help With No Win No Fee Ovarian Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

Please get in touch with us today to discuss your potential ovarian cancer misdiagnosis claim. If you work with a solicitor from our panel they can offer No Win No Fee services. This could include a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

As per the agreement:

  • You won’t pay an upfront cost or ongoing costs for the services your solicitor provides.
  • You won’t be charged for the services your solicitor has provided you if you claim fails.
  • If your claim succeeds, you will pay a small success fee which is subject to a legal cap. This will be deducted from your compensation.

To find out whether a solicitor from our panel can represent your claim on this basis, call our team. They can also provide information on the proof of medical negligence you can gather to support your claim.

To get in touch, you can:

References

Below we have included some additional resources that you may find beneficial.

Other Misdiagnosis Claims

We hope this guide on claiming following an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis has helped. However, if you need any other information, please get in touch using the number at the top of the page.