Misdiagnosis of Skin Cancer Claims

If you or a loved one have been affected by skin cancer that was either misdiagnosed or subject to a delay in treatment, we can help you to make a successful claim and ensure you receive the maximum possible amount of compensation.

JMW’s medical negligence solicitors understand the stress and anxiety you may be feeling if your cancer has spread and your prognosis has worsened due to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. That’s why we’ll help you to claim the compensation you require to support you and your family at this difficult time.

Doctors have a responsibility to understand the risk factors for skin cancer (for example, family history or having red hair), which can enable early diagnosis and treatment. If they miss these signs and skin cancer treatment does not begin early enough, the outcomes can be significantly worse. If you have been diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma, a basal cell carcinoma, melanoma or another form of skin cancer and believe that there was negligent treatment in the diagnostic process, JMW can help you to understand your legal options.

Get in touch with our expert solicitors today for a no-obligation discussion about your skin cancer misdiagnosis claim. Call us on 0345 872 6666 or complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you. We are able to handle cases on a no win, no fee basis.

How JMW Can Help

JMW has one of the most experienced and respected clinical negligence teams in England and Wales. Our team is headed by leading solicitors Eddie Jones and Angharad Hughes, and includes members of the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitor’s panel and the Law Society’s specialist panel for clinical negligence solicitors. We have worked on numerous medical negligence cases relating to skin cancer misdiagnosis and acted for clients who have suffered loss as a result of delayed diagnosis or treatment. 

Claiming damages for clinical negligence is a specialist area of the law that requires solicitors who have the requisite training and experience in these cases. You can rely on JMW to give you the best possible chance of achieving a successful outcome. We are able to handle most cases we take on using a no win, no fee agreement.

Meet Our Medical Negligence Solicitors

If you have experienced complications from a malignant melanoma due to medical negligence, or have any other concerns regarding the management of your skin cancer,  JMW's expert solicitors can support you to claim compensation. Our team has a wealth of expertise and knowledge in cancer negligence.

How Can Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis Lead to a Medical Negligence Claim?

There are a number of risk factors associated with skin cancers that medical professionals should be aware of when caring for a patient, including a family history of melanoma, pale skin, freckles, and red or blonde hair.

Prompt diagnosis, referral and treatment are key to the successful management of skin cancers. Unfortunately, when a GP fails to refer a patient to the hospital or wrongly says that symptoms are “nothing to worry about”, this can result in a delayed diagnosis that leads to the disease spreading or worsening. This type of negligence can entitle you to make a skin cancer negligence claim and seek compensation for your pain, suffering and financial losses. We have a great deal of experience in claiming compensation for clients who have experienced this type of negligence. 

Other examples of clinical negligence that can give rise to a claim include:

• A failure to monitor changes in a suspicious abnormality in your skin
• Misdiagnosis of cancerous cells as another form of cancer
• A failure to adequately inform you on your treatment options and associated side effects
• Inadequate care during surgery that results in nerve damage, or iatrogenic damage to surrounding organs or infection
• Falsely diagnosing skin cancer when you had no form of the disease and had unnecessary treatment or surgery

Whether you have experienced a delayed skin cancer diagnosis, delayed treatment, negligent skin cancer care or poor treatment, or other problems due to medical negligence, the medical negligence team at JMW can help. Our expert solicitors with experience in skin cancer claims can represent you during the claims process and help you to secure the compensation you are owed.

How Much Compensation Can You Get for Skin Cancer Negligence?

When you claim compensation for mismanagement of your skin cancer, the amount of damages you will receive depends on the specific circumstances of your case. Skin cancer compensation is typically divided into two elements, the first of which is general damages. These cover the pain, suffering, loss of amenity caused by the negligence and its consequences, including the impact on your life, enjoyment, and any mental distress you experienced. For skin cancer cases this might include increased pain, more invasive treatment, a worsened prognosis, loss of life expectancy, disfigurement or scarring, and psychological impact.

The Judicial College Guidelines are used by the courts to provide a range of compensation awards relating to specific injuries that can be used as a basis for calculating this element of your compensation. More serious outcomes and greater damages typically result in higher compensation than those where your prospects of recovery remain good. The type of skin cancer, the stage the cancer had reached when you were diagnosed, and the extent of the treatment you need will all affect your compensation amount.

The second aspect of a claim is special damages, which cover the financial losses you have incurred (and will incur) because of the negligence you experienced. These are more tangible losses and can include:

• Loss of earnings during time off work for treatment or recovery. This can also include future earnings if you have had to change your job or lost the ability to work or earn the same amount of money you used to make.
• Medical and care costs (including for private treatment, travel to specialist appointments, and rehabilitation).
• Out-of-pocket expenses caused by the negligence, such as the costs of equipment, aids and adaptations to the home to accommodate an injury or disability. Payments for care during your recovery or ongoing care needs - whether provided by professionals or friends and family members - can also be included.
• Future care costs if the negligence means you will need extra assistance or have other ongoing needs.

When valuing a skin cancer claim, we will of course take full details from you and obtain the necessary expert evidence to assess your needs for the future. JMW's specialist medical negligence solicitors will work to secure the maximum amount of compensation for you, and deal with all aspects of your claim so you can focus on your recovery.

Q

What are the different types of skin cancer?

A

There are two main types of skin cancer - non-melanoma and malignant melanoma. Non-melanoma refers to slow-spreading cancers in the upper layers of the skin, while the rarer, yet more severe, melanoma cancers spread rapidly to other organs after first appearing as cancerous moles. 
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are among the most common types of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Q

What is involved in the skin cancer claims process?

A

Your skin cancer claim begins when you contact JMW. If we believe you have a potential claim, we will begin gathering evidence to build the case and to demonstrate that you have experienced negligent treatment. Once we have obtained supportive evidence, we will prepare a Letter of Claim, setting out the allegations of negligence and the loss which you have suffered. This is sent to the healthcare provider responsible, and they will then commence work on their own investigation in order to respond to the allegations of negligence we have raised on your behalf.

Most medical claims are resolved before court proceedings become necessary. However, if your case does go to court, our experienced clinical negligence team will represent you every step of the way.