When Failure to Diagnose Cancer Becomes Medical Malpractice in California A cancer diagnosis is always devastating, but discovering that your cancer could have been caught earlier, leading to a better prognosis, can be even more heartbreaking. In California, when a healthcare provider’s negligence results in a delayed or missed cancer diagnosis, it can constitute medical malpractice, opening the door for legal recourse. This isn't just about a doctor making a mistake; it's about a breach of the accepted standard of care that directly harms the patient. Understanding Medical Malpractice in Cancer Diagnosis Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional’s actions (or inactions) fall below the accepted standard of care in their field, causing injury or harm to a patient. In the context of cancer, this often means a failure to properly diagnose the disease in a timely manner. To successfully pursue a medical malpractice claim for a missed or delayed ...