Cervical Cancer Claims
Cervical cancer can have a devastating impact on the lives of the people it affects, which is why early detection is so crucial to allow treatment to be started as soon as possible. If you have been subject to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or negligent treatment, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. A cervical cancer negligence claim can cover financial losses resulting from any delay or misdiagnosis, along with an amount to reflect the pain, suffering and loss of amenity you have experienced.
The experienced and understanding team of medical negligence solicitors at JMW can help you to make a no win, no fee cervical cancer claim to ensure you receive the compensation to which you are entitled. Our experienced cervical cancer solicitors approach every medical negligence claim with the sensitivity and care it requires.
If you feel you may be eligible to make a compensation claim for cervical cancer negligence, simply call us on 0345 872 6666, or fill in our online enquiry form and we will call you back to discuss your case. Our initial advice is free and we are able to offer no win, no fee agreements on the cases we take on.
On This Page
- What Our Clients Say
- How JMW Can Help
- Meet Our Team of Cervical Cancer Compensation Claim Experts
- Case Studies
- When Can I Make a Cervical Cancer Claim?
- What Are a GP's Responsibilities Regarding Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment?
- What Is the Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims Process?
- How Much Compensation Can I Receive?
- Is There a Time Limit to Make a Cervical Cancer Claim?
- FAQs About Cervical Cancer Claims
What Our Clients Say
How JMW Can Help
JMW has one of the most experienced and respected clinical negligence teams in England and Wales, and we are able to offer free initial advice on whether you have a case and what you might be able to claim for. We act for individuals whose cervical cancer was misdiagnosed or detected too late because of failures in screening, delayed GP action or missed red flags. We expertly investigate the standard of care you have received and proactively gather evidence on your behalf.
Our medical negligence team, headed by leading medical negligence solicitor Eddie Jones, includes solicitors on the Law Society’s specialist panel for clinical negligence and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitor panel. JMW has a great deal of experience representing people who have suffered significant health problems due to unacceptable cervical cancer screening errors, and helping them to secure the compensation to which they are entitled.
We are able to handle cases under a no win, no fee arrangement if we believe you are entitled to make a claim for cervical cancer compensation due to negligent treatment, misdiagnosis or other such mistakes. We are also able to act for clients who have pre-existing insurance cover. If, after talking to us, you decide not to take matters further, you are under no obligation to do so and will not be charged for the advice given.
Meet Our Team of Cervical Cancer Compensation Claim Experts
We act for individuals whose cervical cancer was misdiagnosed or detected too late because of failures in screening or referral—handling negligent smear test results, delayed GP action or missed red flags. We expertly investigate the breaches in care, gather evidence, and pursue compensation claims on behalf of clients.
Case Studies
When Can I Make a Cervical Cancer Claim?
Cervical cancer is the sixth most common malignancy in women. If cervical cancer is caught early, the prognosis for women is generally good, as abnormal cells can often be removed with a minor routine procedure, and this can prevent the disease from advancing.
However, if screening or other errors occur, this can mean abnormalities are not detected, leaving women to develop cervical cancer that goes unchecked for many years. This can lead to the need for invasive surgery, chemotherapy and, in the worst cases, a terminal prognosis.
Not all screening errors constitute medical negligence, as it is recognised that sometimes very subtle abnormalities may not be detected by a pathologist looking at a smear test slide. However, in cases JMW has handled, clear signs were present that no competent pathologist should have missed.
What Are a GP's Responsibilities Regarding Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment?
Prognosis depends on early diagnosis and treatment, meaning negligence can occur if a GP fails to recognise typical symptoms and make an urgent referral to a gynaecologist. GPs are also under an obligation to invite patients to attend smear tests. Efforts must be made to arrange further appointments in the event of non-attendance and warn patients of the potential risks of non-attendance.
If you report symptoms of cervical cancer to your doctor and they fail to refer you for the necessary tests, or fail to administer the correct treatment as a result, it can cause serious harm and, in the most severe cases, reduced life expectancy. This misdiagnosis or failure to act on cervical cancer symptoms may entitle you to compensation, as it often represents a failure on the part of a medical professional.
The most severe implication for women who have experienced cervical screening errors is a reduced life expectancy. However, it is not the only devastating consequence as women may also be unable to have children, develop other health complications or have to undergo invasive treatment.
What Is the Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims Process?
The claims process starts when you get in touch with JMW's medical negligence team to discuss your situation. Based on the information you provide to us about the treatment you have received, we will offer our opinion on whether you have a claim for compensation and outline what the process is likely to involve. We will then get started on building a strong case for you.
Cervical cancer cases rely on strong evidence that you experienced symptoms of cervical cancer that were missed or ignored. We will instruct an independent medical professional to review your medical records and offer their expert opinion on the standard of care you received. We will need to prepare witness statements to support your version of events. We will ask for evidence to support your claim for financial losses, such as lost earnings, private treatment, therapy and so on.
Provided the expert medical evidence supports the claim, we will then send a letter of claim to the party we believe was responsible. This may be an NHS Trust, a private healthcare provider or a specific professional. They will have some time to investigate and decide whether or not to accept liability. If liability is admitted, we can then begin to negotiate your compensation. If liability is denied, we will issue court proceedings on your behalf and ask the court to list the case for a trial, whereupon a judge will make a determination as to whether care was negligent and, if so, how much compensation you should be awarded.
Most cases settle outside of court; however, if your claim needs to proceed to court, your solicitor will represent you and support you throughout.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive?
Compensation in cervical cancer misdiagnosis claims depends on the specific harm you have experienced physically and psychologically, and any financial losses. As each claim is based on individual circumstances, it is important to speak to the team at JMW about the specifics of your case in order to learn more about how much compensation you may be able to claim.
Is There a Time Limit to Make a Cervical Cancer Claim?
In most medical negligence cases, you will have three years from the date that a medical professional failed to diagnose or detect cervical cancer. Alternatively, this may be three years from the date on which you became aware of the negligence. It is important to speak to an experienced cervical cancer negligence solicitor as soon as possible for advice on the time limits that apply to your case.
If the affected party lacks the mental capacity to claim compensation on their own behalf, there may be no time limit for a litigation friend to apply on their behalf. In rare cases, the court may also allow a claim to be made outside of the relevant time limits, although you should not rely on this, as it is only granted in rare cases.
FAQs About Cervical Cancer Claims
- Who is most at risk of cervical cancer?
Most women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer are aged between 25 and 64; however, in the last decade, incidence numbers have increased in the younger age bracket.
One of the major causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus that is transmitted between people during sexual intercourse. Research has suggested that the following can contribute to the development of cervical cancer:
- Sex at a young age
- Multiple sexual partners
- Promiscuous male partners
- History of sexually-transmitted diseases, particularly HPV
- High number of childbirths
- Heavy smoking
Read more about potential risk factors of cervical cancer here.
- How are women screened for cervical cancer?
The cervix is an organ at the entrance to a woman’s uterus. Screening for cervical cancer works by checking for precancerous cell changes. If these are correctly identified, you can be referred for treatment to prevent the development of cancer. Women are encouraged to attend regular cervical screenings so that any risk can be addressed before the cancer develops.
Smear test slides are checked twice, with the first examination taking around eight minutes. If any abnormalities are found, you should be informed and receive treatment. Slides that pass the first test are double-checked by a system called rapid review. This second check takes a few seconds; however, the test is not conclusive and may still miss signs of cervical cancer.
Although the rapid review system works in the majority of cases, there may still be too many that slip through the net. Improving the system to ensure slides are properly checked twice could ensure fewer women suffer from screening errors.
- How often should women be screened for cervical cancer?
The screening programme in the UK currently states that:
- Women should receive their first invitation for screening before they turn 25 years old
- Women aged 25 to 49 will be screened every three years
- Women aged 50 to 64 will be screened every five years
The screening programme in England currently states that:
- Women should receive their first invitation for screening a few months before they turn 25 years old
- Women aged 25 to 64 will be screened every five years
- Women aged 65 or over are only screened if they have not had a smear test since the age of 50, or have had recent tests showing abnormalities
If a GP fails to invite women for necessary screenings or to encourage them to attend, this may represent negligence in certain cases.
- How is cervical cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis is most commonly made through the screening process and patients have no symptoms. The cells in this case are usually precancerous and, if treated, the majority will not go on to develop cervical cancer.
Clinically, the first symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding. At first this is irregular, but may become continuous. Vaginal discomfort, discharge and dysuria (pain when passing urine) may also be evident. As a tumour grows, it may invade the bladder and rectum and symptoms can evolve, causing obstruction.
When a patient presents with any symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, an urgent referral to a gynaecologist must be made by a GP. Tests, including a colonoscopy and biopsies, will be undertaken to establish a diagnosis.
For more information on the diagnosis of cervical cancer, visit the NHS website.
Once a diagnosis is established, treatment will begin, which takes the form of either radiotherapy or surgical therapy. The type of treatment received depends on what stage the disease is at and the age and preference of the patient.
Talk to Us
For an assessment of your potential cervical cancer claim, get in touch with JMW today. Call us on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form and one of our specialist solicitors will contact you shortly. We are here to help and will provide the support and guidance you need to receive the compensation you deserve. We can take on cases on a no win, no fee basis, which means you can claim with no financial risk.
