Cancer patients often have few options when addressing their medical conditions, and many rely on the expert insight of physicians and specialists to pursue treatment.
Chemotherapy and radiation are two cancer treatment options that can wreak havoc on the body and create unpleasant side effects. For a body that is going through a tremendous amount of physical stress, these side effects or the treatment itself could cause further damage to an individual.
Treatment Damage
Though it is normal to experience discomfort, hair loss, and other side effects from cancer treatment, radiation damage or chemo-related illness can severely impact a patient’s quality of life. If there is a suspicion that the physician or healthcare professional handling your case made a mistake that exacerbated the side effects of treatment, you should consider a medical malpractice claim. However, these cases are extremely difficult to prove without convincing and supportive evidence.
Malpractice Claims
The basis of your medical malpractice claim must indicate that a reasonable standard of care was not met when treating your cancer. Incidents could include an error in the chemical mixture administered by the treatment facility or the wrong dosage prescribed by the treating physician. Successful lawsuits prove that the doctor or facility acted with negligence that directly caused your injuries. The damage must not be a normal side effect, but something more severe as a result of action or inaction.
There is a fine line between common cancer treatment side effects and medical malpractice. With the right evidence and documentation, you could support a legal claim that your treatment caused serious bodily harm.
Don't hesitate to reach out to Shay + Associates Law Firm if you require the expertise of a skilled personal injury lawyer in Springfield or Decatur, Illinois.