Patients around Ohio rely upon the medical expertise of doctors to promptly diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases. In many cases, a patient may see a doctor about a seemingly benign spot or lesion only to learn it is cancerous. However, in cases where even a doctor fails to recognize that such a spot or lesion is something more serious, patients may suffer permanent harm, injury and even death.

A woman recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor who she claims failed to diagnose her melanoma cancer. In the lawsuit, the woman details how she sought medical treatment for a troublesome sore on her foot. Upon closer examination the doctor, who is named as the defendant in this case, determined the sore was a "non-healing lesion". The doctor, however, failed to take a biopsy of the area to rule out cancer or anything more serious. 

About a year after first being diagnosed as having a non-healing lesion, the woman sought a second opinion. At this time, a second doctor examined her foot and decided to take a biopsy of the area. The test results showed that the woman was suffering from a form of skin cancer known as melanoma.

Devastated, the woman is now suing her former doctor for negligence in failing to diagnose the skin cancer. As a result of the doctor's negligence and failure to diagnose, the woman's cancer has progressed and she has been forced to seek more invasive treatment options. Additionally, the woman is seeking to recover compensation related to medical expenses, disfigurement and a reduced life expectancy.

Source: The West Virginia Record, "Lawsuit: Doctor failed to diagnose cancer quick enough," John O'Brien, June 26, 2013