Harrisburg Mastectomy Lawyer

Assisting Clients With Mastectomy Claims in Virginia

Mastectomy is a significant medical procedure that can have profound physical and emotional effects on patients. When something goes wrong during this procedure, whether due to unnecessary surgery, misdiagnosis, or surgical errors, the consequences can be devastating. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a problematic mastectomy, you need a dedicated legal team on your side to help you pursue justice and compensation.

Call Obenshain Law Group today at (540) 318-7360 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our mastectomy attorney in Harrisburg.

What is Mastectomy?

A mastectomy is considered a surgical procedure in which one or both breasts are removed, typically to treat or prevent breast cancer. Depending on the patient's condition and the extent of the cancer, there are several types of mastectomies:

• Total Mastectomy: The removal of the entire breast, including the nipple, areola, and most of the overlying skin.
• Partial Mastectomy: Also known as a lumpectomy, this procedure involves the removal of the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue, leaving most of the breast intact.
• Radical Mastectomy: The most extensive type, involving the removal of the breast, underlying chest muscles, and lymph nodes under the arm.
• Skin-Sparing and Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: These procedures aim to preserve as much of the breast skin and nipple as possible and are often used when reconstruction is planned.

Unnecessary Mastectomies

Unnecessary mastectomies occur when a patient undergoes the procedure without a valid medical reason. This can happen due to a misdiagnosis or over-treatment of a condition that could have been managed with less invasive methods. The emotional and physical toll of losing one or both breasts, coupled with the risks and side effects of surgery, can be immense. In these cases, patients may face a lifetime of physical complications, psychological trauma, and a profound sense of loss, all stemming from a procedure that should never have been performed.

Medical professionals have a duty to provide accurate diagnoses and recommend appropriate treatment plans. When a healthcare provider fails in this responsibility, and a patient undergoes an unnecessary mastectomy, it may be considered medical malpractice. Victims of such errors deserve compensation for their pain, suffering, and the financial burden imposed by the unnecessary surgery and subsequent recovery.

Misdiagnosis of Mastectomies

A misdiagnosis can lead to a mastectomy being performed when it is not needed, or conversely, a necessary mastectomy may be delayed or not performed at all. In either case, the consequences can be severe. Misdiagnosis can occur due to errors in interpreting mammograms, biopsies, or other diagnostic tests. Sometimes, a benign condition may be mistaken for cancer, leading to an unnecessary mastectomy. In other instances, a more conservative treatment could be appropriate, but the patient is instead subjected to the trauma of losing a breast.

When a misdiagnosis leads to a mastectomy, the patient may experience unnecessary physical and emotional distress, as well as complications from the surgery. Additionally, a delayed or missed diagnosis of breast cancer could lead to the disease progressing to a more advanced stage, reducing the patient's chances of survival and requiring more aggressive treatment. Such medical errors may warrant legal action to hold the responsible parties accountable and to secure compensation for the affected individual.