What Constitutes Misdiagnosis?
Physicians and other medical personnel are often regarded as the “be-all and end-all” when it comes to diagnosing a patient’s physical and mental problems and keeping people healthy.
Unfortunately, some patients are victims of medical misdiagnosis that can lead to further health complications or even death. When a medical professional fails to provide an established standard level of care resulting in a mistake which is severe enough to injure a patient who would otherwise not have experienced the physical or emotional impediments, medical malpractice lawsuits can often be filed.
Types of Misdiagnosis
Medical misdiagnosis can occur during routine examinations, follow-up appointments, in a hospital or emergency room setting or during testing procedures. Misdiagnosis can lead to delayed treatment for common conditions such as:
* Cancer, especially breast, lung, colon and cervical cancer
* Heart attacks
* Appendicitis
* Stroke
* Meningitis
* Pulmonary artery blockage
* Blood clots
* Diabetes
In many cases, prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment can slow down or even eliminate these conditions from the body. However, when misdiagnosed, patients can suffer traumatic consequences when these conditions are allowed to fester or grow.
It is also possible for medical personnel to misdiagnose a health problem as being more severe than it actually is. For example, a patient can be informed that he has a malignant tumor that is actually benign, causing the patient to undergo unnecessary and potentially debilitating cancer treatments.
Reasons for Misdiagnosis
Medical personnel and medical technicians are human, and all humans make mistakes. There is a seemingly endless list of reasons why a medical misdiagnosis can occur. Some of the common reasons include:
* Untrained or inexperienced medical staff
* Overworked, tired medical staff, especially in emergency room settings
* Failure to recognize and diagnose symptoms
* Failure to recognize high-risk patients
* Failure to perform the proper medical tests
* Failure to refer a patient to a specialist
* Errors in testing
* Testing result delays
* Equipment malfunction
It is difficult to accurately report how many misdiagnosis cases actually occur every year because many go unreported and many are unrecognized. Some statistics have estimated that as many as 20% of deadly illnesses are misdiagnosed. As a result, the patient and the patient’s family can be left with:
* Extreme medical expenses
* Lost wages
* Pain and suffering
If you feel that you or a loved one has been a victim of medical misdiagnosis, do not wait to speak to a medical malpractice attorney. Each state has its own statue of limitations on when a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed, and a knowledgeable attorney will be able to determine if you have a case and expedite your claim.