Cancer Misdiagnosis FAQs

Cases involving pediatric cancer misdiagnosis are among the most heartbreaking we handle. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) — including Scottish Rite and Egleston campuses — is a private pediatric health system. If a physician at CHOA or any other Georgia pediatric facility failed to diagnose leukemia, brain tumor, bone cancer, or other pediatric malignancy in a timely manner, your family may have a claim. Special rules may apply when the patient is a minor, including tolling of the statute of limitations in certain circumstances. Call us immediately.

Medical malpractice cases in Georgia are typically complex and may take 18 months to three years or more to resolve, depending on whether the case proceeds to trial or settles. The timeline is affected by the number of defendants, the complexity of the medical evidence, court scheduling, and whether expert depositions are contested. Haug Barron Law Group works efficiently to move your case forward without sacrificing the thoroughness required to maximize your recovery.

Radiologists are held to a strict standard when reading mammograms, breast MRIs, and ultrasounds. A missed or misinterpreted breast mass that leads to a delayed diagnosis — allowing breast cancer to advance from a localized, highly treatable Stage I or II to a more aggressive Stage III or IV — can support a substantial malpractice claim. Our firm routinely engages breast radiology experts to review imaging and opine on the standard of care.

Abnormal Pap smear results that are not properly followed up, pelvic masses dismissed without adequate imaging, and HPV-related lesions overlooked during annual exams can give rise to gynecological cancer malpractice claims. If your OB-GYN failed to order appropriate testing or refer you to a gynecologic oncologist when warning signs were present, Haug Barron Law Group can evaluate your claim and connect you with the gynecologic oncology experts necessary to prove the standard of care breach.

This is a well-recognized form of colorectal cancer malpractice. National screening guidelines published by the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force establish clear standards for when colonoscopy should be ordered. If your gastroenterologist or primary care physician failed to follow those standards and your cancer progressed as a result, you may have a strong claim. Contact us immediately to preserve critical medical evidence.

The value of your case depends on multiple factors, including the type and stage of cancer at the time of the missed diagnosis versus the stage at which it was eventually discovered, the severity of resulting harm, your age and earning capacity, the cost of additional treatment required due to the delay, and whether the case involves wrongful death. Haug Barron Law Group has achieved multiple multi-million dollar results in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We provide a thorough case valuation during your free consultation.

Yes. Pathology misreading is one of the most serious and actionable forms of cancer misdiagnosis. A trained pathologist is held to a high standard of care when evaluating biopsy specimens. If your malignancy was misclassified as benign, the resulting delay in treatment may have caused your cancer to progress to a more advanced, less treatable stage. Your case would require pathology expert review, which our firm can coordinate.

Claims against federal facilities, including Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, are governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), not Georgia state law. FTCA claims involve a separate administrative process with strict notice requirements. Haug Barron Law Group can evaluate whether your claim involves a VA or other federal facility and guide you through the appropriate process.

Yes. Northside Hospital is a private, not-for-profit health system. If your cancer was missed by a physician, radiologist, or other provider employed by or credentialed at Northside Hospital, you may have a viable malpractice claim. Our firm has handled claims involving large Atlanta-area health systems and has the resources to pursue these cases aggressively through trial if necessary.

This is precisely the type of case Haug Barron Law Group handles. Under Georgia’s Wrongful Death Act, the surviving spouse, children, or parents of a patient who died because of medical negligence may recover the full value of that person’s life. A lung cancer that was missed on imaging for a year or more is a serious deviation from the standard of care. Our attorneys and medical experts will review the records, identify the responsible parties, and fight for the maximum recovery your family deserves.

Grady Memorial Hospital is a public hospital owned by Fulton and DeKalb Counties and operated by the Grady Health System. Claims against Grady may require strict compliance with Georgia’s ante litem notice statute under O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5, which imposes shorter notice deadlines than the standard two-year malpractice statute. Contact Haug Barron Law Group immediately if Grady is involved — delays can forfeit your right to sue.

Piedmont Healthcare is one of the largest private health systems in Georgia. Missed diagnoses at Piedmont hospitals in Atlanta, Fayette, Henry, Newnan, and across the state are actionable under Georgia law. Our firm regularly handles claims against large health systems. We handle all litigation costs up front on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover on your behalf.

Yes. Emory Healthcare facilities, including Emory University Hospital, Emory Midtown, and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, are private institutions and may be sued under standard Georgia medical malpractice principles. If a radiologist, oncologist, or primary care physician at an Emory facility failed to diagnose your cancer in a timely manner, Haug Barron Law Group can investigate your claim, secure expert review of your medical records, and pursue full compensation on your behalf.

Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex personal injury matters and often take one to three years from filing to resolution, depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. Georgia’s mandatory expert affidavit requirement adds preparation time before a complaint can even be filed. Starting early — and retaining counsel promptly — gives your legal team the most time to build the strongest possible case.

Nothing upfront. We handle cancer misdiagnosis cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we are paid only if and when we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is completely free.

Not necessarily. Under Georgia’s loss of chance doctrine, even if survival was statistically unlikely, you may recover for the reduction in your chances caused by the delayed diagnosis. This is a nuanced area of law where the specific facts — your cancer’s stage, type, and historical survival rates — matter enormously. Our attorneys work with oncology experts to quantify lost chance and maximize your recovery.

Yes. Georgia’s Wrongful Death Act (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et seq.) allows the surviving spouse, children, or parents of a deceased patient to pursue a wrongful death claim. The estate may separately pursue a survival action for pain and suffering and other damages the deceased sustained before death. Both claims are typically filed together. The deadline is generally two years from the date of death.