Springfield Failure to Diagnose Lawyer

Springfield Failure to Diagnose & Medical Malpractice

When a medical professional fails to recognize the signs of a serious illness, the consequences can be devastating for patients and their families.

In some cases, these failures may rise to the level of medical malpractice. This happens when a doctor doesn’t meet the accepted standard of care, meaning another physician, under the same circumstances, would’ve identified the condition or taken steps to diagnose it sooner.

Diagnostic errors in Springfield may include: 

• Delayed diagnosis: When the correct condition is eventually diagnosed, but only after a harmful and avoidable delay
• Failure to diagnose: When a doctor overlooks clear symptoms and never identifies the condition
• Misdiagnosis: When a patient is incorrectly diagnosed with the wrong illness, it can lead to unnecessary treatments or missed opportunities for proper care

These errors can prevent patients from receiving the timely and effective treatment they need, potentially allowing their illnesses to advance or worsen.

In one case, a Springfield mother filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against several doctors who treated her son but failed to diagnose his congenital heart abnormality. The high schooler suffered sudden cardiac arrest and passed away while playing basketball.

If you believe your health was negatively impacted by a doctor’s error, Sokolove Law may be able to help you hold the negligent provider accountable and pursue compensation. Contact our Springfield failure to diagnose lawyers now.

Let Sokolove Law Fight for You

Since 1979, Sokolove Law has secured over $10.1 Billion for thousands of injured clients nationwide.

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Springfield Failure to Diagnose Settlement Amounts

At Sokolove Law, we’ve secured more than $10.1 Billion total, including for Springfield families impacted by negligent medical professionals.

Our past Massachusetts failure to diagnose settlements and verdicts include:

• $10 Million for a man who didn’t receive a timely diagnosis
• $3.9 Million to a patient who received a delayed diagnosis for a herniated disc
• $2.45 Million for a patient whose diagnosis was incorrect
• $1.5 Million to a woman who received a delayed ovarian cancer diagnosis
• $2.25 Million for a patient who suffered a misdiagnosis
• $2 Million to a patient who is now partially paralyzed in their back due to a delayed diagnosis
• $1.25 Million for a client who was misdiagnosed, which delayed his lung cancer diagnosis until it was stage 4 and inoperable
• $4 Million to a Billerica man whose cancer was misdiagnosed

While there’s never a guarantee of success in any case, our Springfield failure to diagnose lawyers will fight hard to get you everything you’re entitled to.

What Conditions Are Commonly Missed by Medical Professionals?

If caught early, many medical conditions can be managed with medication, surgery, and other treatment options. Unfortunately, health care professionals often fail to diagnose serious health issues that may worsen due to the delay.

Below are some of the more common conditions that often go unidentified or are misdiagnosed.

1. Aneurysms

Aneurysms are bulges that form in the weakened walls of an artery, most commonly within the chest or brain. Failure to properly diagnose an aneurysm can lead to vessel rupture, which can cause internal bleeding, blood clots, or stroke.

Find out more about different types of aneurysms: 

• Aortic aneurysms, which occur in the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso, may cause back and chest pain, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. They can be fatal if the outer wall of the aorta is penetrated.
• Brain aneurysms may cause blurred vision, nausea, headaches, and more. Failing to diagnose a brain aneurysm in a timely manner can result in paralysis, brain damage, coma, or death.

If diagnosed accurately and early, aneurysms may be treated with surgery and medication.

2. Blood Clots

Blood clots help your body to stop bleeding following an injury. However, if blood clots form without reason and prevent blood from flowing throughout the rest of your body, serious medical issues may occur.

One issue that may arise from an undiagnosed blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which occurs when blood clots form in the veins found in the arms or legs.

Symptoms of DVT often appear in the affected limb and can include:

• Pain, cramping, or soreness
• Red or discolored skin
• Swelling
• Warmness

Failing to properly diagnose a blood clot can make the condition worse, and delays in diagnosing blood clots may lead to a heart attack, stroke, or death.

3. Cancer

In most cases, an early cancer diagnosis is crucial to properly treating and recovering from the different forms of this disease.

Failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing cancer often leads to invasive and painful treatments. The further a patient’s cancer progresses, the less likely they are to recover from it.

A health care professional may not properly diagnose cancer if they:

• Failed to discuss or order regular screening tests
• Incorrectly interpreted scans and other test results
• Don’t take “minor” symptoms seriously
• Rely too heavily on risk factors like age or family history

Breast cancer, for example, is commonly misdiagnosed but can be treated if caught in its early stages. However, a delayed or incorrect diagnosis may allow the cancer to progress to later stages.

Call (800) 995-1212 now to see if our Springfield delayed cancer diagnosis lawyers may be able to help your family secure compensation.

4. Heart Attacks

A heart attack is the result of a blockage in one or more arteries. The blockage can be either partial or complete, slowing or stopping blood flow to the heart and depriving the body of oxygen.

Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

• Cold sweats
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
• Nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or abdominal pain
• Pain and discomfort that originates in one area and spreads to a different area
• Pressure or tightness in the chest, abdomen, neck, back, jaw, or arms
• Shortness of breath

During a heart attack, blood flow must be restored quickly to avoid damage. A delayed or missed heart attack diagnosis can lead to death.

Doctors should perform an EKG to evaluate heart rhythm, conduct blood tests, and provide clot-dissolving drugs to identify and address a heart attack. If none of the above took place, malpractice may have occurred.

5. Infections

Many infections are easily treated with antibiotics and other medications. However, infections may spread throughout the body and become life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated by a medical professional.

Hospitals may also face a malpractice lawsuit if a patient develops a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) while under their care. Patients recovering from surgery or awaiting treatment may have compromised immune systems, making them especially prone to infections.

Some common HAIs include:

• Clostridium difficile or C. diff
• Gastrointestinal conditions
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis or bloodstream infections
• Surgical site infections
• Urinary tract infections

At least 1 out of 10 people admitted to a hospital will get HAIs, which are linked to high patient morbidity and death.

Left undiagnosed, an infection can lead to sepsis and septic shock, which may cause organ damage, organ failure, and death.

6. Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that breaks free and travels through the veins to the lungs.

During a pulmonary embolism, blood flow to the lungs is disrupted, and lung tissues begin to die. This prevents the lungs from oxygenating the body.

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:

• Anxiety
• Discolored skin
• Dizziness
• Dry cough that generates bloody sputum
• Excessive sweating
• Fainting
• Fever
• Irregular and rapid heartbeat
• Leg pain or swelling of the calf
• Sharp stabbing chest pain
• Shortness of breath

A physician’s failure to diagnose a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. Approximately 33% of undiagnosed or untreated patients die from pulmonary embolism.

7. Stroke

Strokes kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, making them a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain is interrupted due to a blocked or burst blood vessel, causing brain cells to die rapidly.

Find out more about different types of strokes: 

• Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain that results in a brain bleed
• Ischemic strokes occur when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain
• Transient ischemic attacks (TIA), also called “mini strokes,” take place when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked for a few minutes

Symptoms of a stroke can include issues with vision, speech, coordination, and more. Sometimes, paralysis will occur on one side of the body.

A timely diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial with a stroke, as these can limit the damage caused by the stroke and ultimately increase the likelihood of recovery.

However, failing to diagnose or delaying a diagnosis can lead to avoidable lifelong injuries like paralysis, loss of motor functions, seizures, or even death.

How to File a Springfield Failure to Diagnose Lawsuit

Filing a Springfield failure to diagnose lawsuit can hold medical professionals accountable for their negligence and potentially prevent other patients from suffering a similar fate.

If you have a case, our Springfield failure to diagnose lawyers will handle every step of the legal process for you, so you can focus on your health and your loved ones.

Our misdiagnosis lawyers in Springfield can:

• Provide you with a free case review to determine if you have a case
• Gather evidence to show that another doctor would have been able to provide you with an accurate diagnosis sooner
• File your Springfield failure to diagnose lawsuit within any state-specific deadlines
• Negotiate a failure to diagnose settlement with the defendants, which may include your doctor, the hospital, or their insurance company
• Present your case in court if a settlement is unable to be reached and pursue compensation from a trial verdict

Compensation from a Springfield failure to diagnose lawsuit can help you pay for any additional care needed following a medical mistake.

Let Our Wrong Diagnosis Lawyers in Springfield, MA Fight for You

We understand how terrifying an unknown or delayed medical diagnosis can be. Our compassionate wrong diagnosis lawyers in Springfield are dedicated to holding those responsible for your suffering accountable.

Our goal is to make the legal process as easy and stress-free as possible for you while fighting for the compensation you deserve.

Since 1979, we’ve secured over $10.1 Billion total for our clients across the country.

We only get paid if we recover compensation for you, so there is no financial risk to taking legal action.

Call (800) 995-1212 now or fill out our contact form to get started with a free, no-obligation case review.

Springfield Failure to or Delay in Diagnosis Attorney FAQs