Filing a cervical cancer lawsuit may be a viable option after a Pap smear results in a missed diagnosis.

The Pap smear has been one of the most effective methods ever discovered for detecting cervical cancer or precancerous states early. If found early, treatment can begin early, and the chances of succumbing to a disease that once claimed women’s lives at an alarming rate is greatly decreased.

Despite subjecting themselves to this invasive test, however, some women have been told their Pap smear results are negative, only to find out later they have advanced cancer. Advanced cancer is much harder to eradicate and the chances of death after a mishandled Pap smear are higher.

A cervical cancer lawsuit can win compensation that can help a family cope with the high cost of medical treatment, loss of the patient’s income, and other costs that result from a negligently administered Pap smear.

What is the Pap Smear?

The Pap smear, a screening test developed decades ago, is a procedure created by Georgios Papanikolaou to test women for cells showing abnormal growth patterns on the cervix.

The cervix is the opening between a woman’s womb, or uterus, and her vagina. With this test, sample cells are removed from this area and examined under a microscope to determine if there is any precancerous or cancerous cell activity.

This effective test does get misread from time to time. Its weakness is that each sampling of cells needs to be examined individually by a human being—there are no shortcuts. The cells cannot be put through a machine, but rather must be painstakingly reviewed by the eyes of a trained medical professional in a laboratory.

How is a Pap Smear Misread?

Overworked laboratory technicians can be rushed to complete a massive number of tests in an average work day, whether those are all pap smears or a combination of medical tests.

The trend to get by on fewer staff affects professional medical labs as much as any other business entity. Lowering the number of staff lowers costs. It helps labs absorb insurance non-reimbursements and other losses. With any overworked staff, mistakes can happen.

When these mistakes can potentially cost a life, like the misreading of a pap smear, filing a cervical cancer lawsuit can help raise awareness of a growing problem that shouldn’t happen.

What are the Statistics of Cervical Cancer in the U.S.?

According to an article on Medscape, roughly half a million new cervical cancer diagnoses occur globally, with slightly over half of those ending in death.

In the U.S., it is expected that slightly over 13,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this upcoming year, with about 4,000 of those succumbing to the disease.

While these numbers are formidable because the disease is the second largest cancer killer of women, the rates have decreased to about half of what they were since 1975.

The biggest difference causing this decline has been early detection through a Pap smear and the prevalence of testing throughout our nation’s female population. If you get regular screenings, you should not develop cancer beyond its earliest stages.

If you have been diligent with your testing and had negative results, only to be diagnosed with cervical cancer  later, you may be eligible to file a cervical cancer lawsuit for medical negligence. Lawyers are ready to review your situation to see if you have a case.