Failure to Diagnose Cervical Cancer in Florida: When Abnormal Test Results Are Missed or Ignored
For many women, a Pap smear is just another item on an annual checklist. It takes only a few minutes, and most patients expect that if something is wrong, their doctor's office will call. That expectation is reasonable. Unfortunately, delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer often has little to do with a patient failing to seek medical care. Instead, these cases frequently involve breakdowns within the healthcare system itself. An abnormal Pap smear is overlooked. A positive HPV test is never followed up. A biopsy is delayed for months. A pathology report is filed away without anyone notifying the patient. By...