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When receiving medical treatment, your trust is instilled in the care and expertise of healthcare professionals, whether it be GPs, nurses or surgeons. Therefore, if you’ve experienced a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, this can feel like a complete breach of trust. The effects of suffering a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis can be wide-ranging, often encompassing delayed treatment, a reduced survival rate and severe psychological harm. In turn, this can bleed into financial effects, such as medical expenses and lost earnings from time taken off work. If you’ve suffered something similar, our team is here to help you through this challenging time.
At Advice, we understand that no person should have to suffer at the hands of a healthcare professional. That’s why we’re committed to helping you achieve a sense of justice following your negligent experience. As part of the free services we offer, you could enjoy helpful advice and an initial consultation to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Following this, you could be connected with one of the specialist solicitors here at Advice to start your compensation claim. As experts in medical negligence compensation cases, our No Win No Fee solicitors are equipped to achieve the payout that you deserve.
For more information about pancreatic misdiagnosis claims, please get in touch with our friendly team:
- Call us on 0161 509 2856
- Contact us online by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Caused By Medical Negligence
- Compensation Amounts For Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer
- What Conditions Can Be Mistaken With Pancreatic Cancer?
- The Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
- What Is The Proper Way To Diagnose Pancreatic Cancer?
- What Complications Can Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer Result In?
- Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims With Advice
- More Information
Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Caused By Medical Negligence
A pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis could arise due to its initial vague symptoms and a lack of investigation. As such, please see the following examples and how pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claims could arise:
- When visiting your GP with symptoms of fatigue, digestive issues and unexplained weight loss, you could be misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As such, the GP could also fail to refer you for further testing, resulting in the pancreatic cancer spreading.
- An oncologist could misinterpret the findings of a CT scan, diagnosing you with pancreatitis instead of pancreatic cancer. This could cause the cancer to worsen to a later stage, causing organ damage and requiring surgical intervention.
- A nurse could accidentally mix up the test results of two patients, causing you to receive the wrong cancer diagnosis. This could result in the unnecessary treatment of a healthy organ, resulting in psychological harm such as PTSD. Moreover, this could take months before this mistake is realised, resulting in a delayed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive, and a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis could occur in many different situations.
Compensation Amounts For Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer
In successful pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claims, you will be awarded general damages as part of your compensation. The award of general damages will compensate you for your physical and mental pain and suffering you experienced.
To calculate a figure for this amount, a solicitor or other professional involved in the claim may use the compensation brackets found in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). These guidelines list potential compensation amounts for a range of harm and injuries that could be suffered as a result of negligent healthcare.
All entries in the table below, apart from the first figure, have been taken from the JCG. Please be aware that they are merely guidelines and do not guarantee how much you could receive.
| Harm | Notes | Guideline Pay-out |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe forms of harm with financial losses | More than one occurrence of harm with special damages such as lost earnings, medical expenses and travel costs. | Up to £500,000+ |
| Kidney Injuries a) | Serious damage of a permanent nature or loss of both kidneys. | £206,730 to £256,780 |
| Bowel Injuries b) | A complete loss of natural function and a dependence on colostomy, considering the age. | Up to £183,190 |
| Bowel Injuries c) | Faecal urgency that continues after surgery resulting in embarrassment and distress. | In the region of £97,530 |
| Non-Traumatic Injuries To The Digestive System (i) | Serious toxicosis, causing vomiting, fever, irritable bowel syndrome, causing an effect on working life. | £46,900 to £64,070 |
| Spleen Injuries a) | A loss of spleen where there is continuous risk of internal infection due to the immune system damage. | £25,380 to £32,090 |
Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Special Damages
If you’ve suffered financial losses due to a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, you could receive special damages if your claim is successful. In essence, the award of special damages will reimburse you for any monetary losses you suffered due to your harm. To illustrate, please see the following examples of special damages that you could include in your claim:
- Loss of earnings, encompassing a loss in current or future earnings, loss of a bonus, overtime pay and workplace benefits.
- Medical expenses, such as private medical consultations, prescriptions and chemotherapy costs.
- Home modification costs, including ramps, grab rails, new doors and wet rooms to accommodate permanent harm.
- Care expenses, such as the cost of professional help with cooking, nursing, cleaning and dressing.
- Travel expenses, encompassing fuel and public transport costs from travelling to and from appointments.
To learn more about special damages, please get in touch with one of our friendly advisors today.
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What Conditions Can Be Mistaken With Pancreatic Cancer?
Conditions that can be mistaken with pancreatic cancer may include the following:
- Gallstones
- Pancreatitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- GERD (acid reflux)
- Ulcers
- Gallbladder problems
- Fibromyalgia
- Fatty pancreas
- Cystic neoplasms
To discuss your negligent experience with one of our advisors, please get in touch today.
The Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
Markedly, the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer can overlap with many common conditions, causing a misdiagnosis. As such, please see the following symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- The whites of your eyes or your skin turning yellow (jaundice)
- Unexplained weight loss or a loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- A high temperature or feeling cold or shivery
- Nausea
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Pain towards the top of your tummy and back. This pain could be made worse when eating or laying down
- Indigestion and bloating
If your pancreatic cancer was made worse by a misdiagnosis, please speak to one of our advisors for a free case check today.
What Is The Proper Way To Diagnose Pancreatic Cancer?
The proper way to diagnose pancreatic cancer typically involves a combination of blood tests, advanced imaging and biopsies. As such, the following tests may be carried out:
- Blood tests. This can check for liver function and tumour markers.
- Scans, such as ultrasounds, CT scans, PET scans or MRI scans
- A biopsy of the pancreas to be checked for cancerous cells
- A laparoscopy, which is a small operation that looks inside your tummy
- An ERCP test, where an endoscope is passed through your mouth to your stomach, taking an x-ray of your pancreas.
For more information on what to do after a misdiagnosis, please feel free to contact our advisors today.
What Complications Can Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer Result In?
Misdiagnosed pancreatic cancer can result in wide-ranging complications, including delayed treatment, malnutrition and debilitating pain. Please see the following further complications that could arise due to a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis:
- Receiving an advanced-stage cancer diagnosis. This could be due to the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes, liver or lungs.
- Limited treatment options, sometimes leading to palliative care.
- Worsening symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, jaundice, increased fatigue and digestive issues.
- An interruption of nutrient absorption due to the spread of cancer. This can lead to severe weight loss, muscle wasting and fatigue.
- New-onset diabetes. This can be caused by a tumour’s effect on insulin production.
- Blood clots
- Psychological harm due to a mistrust in the healthcare system. This can lead to PTSD, anxiety and depression.
If you’ve experienced something similar, please rest assured that you’re not alone. To discuss starting a compensation claim with our friendly advisors, please get in touch today.
Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims With Advice
At Advice, we understand that the prospect of starting a claim can be daunting. That’s why our advisors are dedicated to providing a personalised service from start to finish. Following a free case check, you could be connected with one of our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors. Working under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you could experience:
- No solicitor service fees at the start of your case, as it progresses or in the event that the result is unsuccessful.
- If your case is a success, you will pay a success fee to your solicitor. Please be aware that the percentage of this fee is capped by law and will be deducted from your compensation. In doing this, you’ll always enjoy the majority amount.
If you’re connected with one of the experienced solicitors at Advice, you could enjoy the following benefits:
- Regular case updates so you always know where your pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claim stands.
- Putting you in contact with professionals to aid any ongoing harm, such as therapists.
- Explanations of legal jargon to give you a full understanding of the claims process.
- Helping you gather evidence on your behalf, such as your medical records.
- Expert advice about pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claims that strictly adheres to the rules of confidentiality
Contact Us
To discover more about pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claims, please feel free to contact our team:
- Call us on 0161 509 2856
- Contact us online by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
More Information
For more information about medical negligence claims, please refer to some of our other guides:
- Learn how to prove medical negligence in a compensation claim
- See the following advice about how to claim against the NHS
Additional external resources:
- See the advice about chemotherapy treatment from the NHS
- Learn about good medical practice from the General Medical Council (GMC)
- Get help with statutory sick pay (SSP) from Gov.UK
Thank you for reading our helpful guide about pancreatic misdiagnosis claims.
