If you were given a normal pap smear result and then discovered that the pap smear missed cervical cancer because you were later diagnosed with the disease, you may have a legal claim.

Cervical used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death among American women but now it is one of the most preventable. Happily, it is possible to screen for cervical cancer easily, so early detection and treatment are possible.

This is made possible by the Pap test (also called a Pap smear), a test that was introduced more than 60 years ago. During a Pap smear, cells from a patient’s cervix are analyzed in a lab, which can show the presence of abnormalities, pre-cancerous cells, and cancer. Done regularly, Pap smears are extremely effective in detecting pre-cancerous cells and early signs of cancer. If cervical cancer is detected early, it is possible to treat it before it begins.

Because of the Pap test, women who get regular Pap smears should rarely be diagnosed with cervical cancer. However, some patients and their families claim that they were diagnosed with cervical cancer even after receiving normal results from a Pap smear. According to patients and doctors, it is possible for a Pap smear to come back with a “false positive” result.

A cervical cancer diagnosis is always devastating, but especially when the disease could have been prevented if diagnosed and treated early.

False positive results in pap smears can result because of a range of factors and errors. Though Pap smears are usually very accurate, and are an excellent diagnostic tool, they are not foolproof. Each sample of cervical cells used in a Pap smear must be analyzed under a microscope by a person, so sometimes, evidence of cervical cancer can be missed.

Because Pap smears are so common, laboratory technicians often must analyze many Pap smears quickly, which can result in missed cervical cancer if they are in a hurry and make an error.

In fact, in 2014, nearly 17.4 million doctor visits and nearly 3.5 million hospital visits ordered Pap tests in 2014. So, it’s not impossible to assume that some error will occur, especially since many laboratories and laboratory technicians are overworked, and possibly over-tired.

Additionally, a missed cervical cancer can occur if records for Pap tests are misplaced or if results are recorded incorrectly. In some cases, patients are delivered a false positive to their Pap smear simply because of a clerical error.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cervical cancer after you received a false positive in a Pap smear, you may qualify for a missed cervical cancer lawsuit investigation. Missed cervical cancer lawsuits can help hold medical institutions accountable for negligence, and  filing a missed cervical cancer lawsuit could help you gain compensation for the injury you suffered as a result of the missed cervical cancer.

Your compensation can help you cover medical expenses, hospital stays, missed work, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and more. An experienced lawyer can help determine if you have a legal claim.