Liability in the context of misdiagnosis of melanoma in Australia

Summary Malignant melanoma is a serious and relatively common condition, the diagnosis of which may be difficult. In a recent Supreme Court of New South Wales case, misdiagnosis of melanoma occurred, but there was failure to establish causation of the patient's poor prognosis. Aggressive melano...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical journal of Australia 2014-02, Vol.200 (2), p.119-121
Main Authors: Abikhair, Melody R, Mahar, Patrick D, Cachia, Adrian R, Kelly, John W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Diagnostic Errors - legislation & jurisprudence
Diagnostic techniques and procedures
Ethics and law
Humans
Liability, Legal
Melanoma - diagnosis
Melanoma - therapy
Skin and connective tissue diseases
Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis
Skin Neoplasms - therapy
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Summary:Summary Malignant melanoma is a serious and relatively common condition, the diagnosis of which may be difficult. In a recent Supreme Court of New South Wales case, misdiagnosis of melanoma occurred, but there was failure to establish causation of the patient's poor prognosis. Aggressive melanomas may grow quickly, fail to conform to standard and commonly taught diagnostic criteria, and frequently escape early detection. In the event of uncertain diagnosis or failed treatment of a lesion, an appropriate standard of care is full excisional biopsy if not previously performed, or referral of the case to an appropriate specialist or melanoma centre. Clinicians should remain aware of the existence of higher‐risk, easily misdiagnosed melanomas with a high mortality rate. Therefore, they should aim to identify these at the earliest opportunity.
ISSN:0025-729X
1326-5377
DOI:10.5694/mja13.10239