For over 40 years, our experienced failure to diagnose lawyers in Worcester have fought on behalf of patients and families who have suffered as a result of a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
Find out if you may be eligible for compensation from a failure to diagnose lawsuit. Contact Sokolove Law today for a free case review.
Why Choose Sokolove Law as Your Worcester Failure to Diagnose Law Firm?
At Sokolove Law, we understand the pain and suffering people experience when they are failed by the medical community, and we have a long track record of holding those responsible for that suffering accountable.
Our firm has the resources and skills needed to help you seek justice and compensation for your injuries. Since 1979, we've secured over $9.3 Billion on behalf of our clients across the United States.
Additionally, our Worcester failure to diagnose lawyers don’t charge any upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if you do, so there’s no financial risk to taking legal action.
Call (800) 995-1212 now to find out if you have a case. It costs nothing to speak with us.
Learn More About Your Legal Options
If you believe a health care professional failed to properly diagnose your condition, an experienced Worcester misdiagnose lawyer can help you understand your legal options.
Failure to Diagnose Medical Malpractice in Worcester, MA
When a doctor or medical professional fails to provide an acceptable standard of care to a patient, their negligence may result in serious harm or injury. This is known as medical malpractice.
One type of medical malpractice is a failure to diagnose patients in a prompt and accurate manner.
Every year, over 100,000 patients in the United States are permanently disabled or die due to diagnostic errors, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Some examples of diagnostic errors include:
Delayed diagnosis: When a doctor does not identify the cause of a patient’s symptoms in a timely manner, causing their condition to worsen or become untreatable
Failure to diagnose: When a doctor fails to take the steps needed to provide a patient with a diagnosis
Misdiagnosis: When a doctor incorrectly diagnoses a patient, which can lead to unnecessary treatments while their health continues to decline
If a doctor does not provide a patient with a diagnosis, or if they provide an incorrect diagnosis, this does not automatically prove malpractice. The patient’s lawyer must show that, under similar conditions, another doctor would have correctly diagnosed the illness.
At Sokolove Law, our Worcester wrong diagnosis lawyers have decades of experience proving medical malpractice or negligence.
Let us put our experience to work for you. Call (800) 995-1212 now for a free case review.
Conditions 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.
Aneurysm Misdiagnosis Malpractice
Aneurysms are bulges that form in the weakened walls of an artery, especially within the chest or brain. If misdiagnosed or left undiagnosed, aneurysms can pose severe risks.
Failure to properly diagnose an aneurysm can result in vessel rupture, leading to internal bleeding, blood clots, or stroke.
Aortic aneurysms — which occur in the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso — can prove fatal if the outer wall of the aorta is penetrated.
Symptoms of aortic aneurysms can include back and chest pain, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.
A timely and accurate diagnosis of a brain aneurysm is also crucial for effective treatment, as failure to do so can result in paralysis, brain damage, coma, or death.
Symptoms of brain aneurysms can include:
Blurred vision
Cranial nerve palsy (lack of nerve function that limits the eye’s ability to move)
Dilated pupils
Headache
Loss of sensation
Nausea or vomiting
Pain above or behind the eyes
Sensitivity to light
Severe headaches
Stiff neck
If diagnosed accurately and early, aneurysms may be treated with surgery and medication.
Blood Clots & Misdiagnosis
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 form from an undiagnosed blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which occurs when blood clots form in veins found in the arms or legs.
Symptoms of DVT often appear in the affected leg and can include:
Pain, cramping, or soreness
Red or discolored skin
Swelling
Warmness
A failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis of a blood clot can make the condition worse, and delays in diagnosing blood clots can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or death.
Medical Malpractice & Failure to Diagnose 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 progressed a patient’s cancer becomes, the less likely they are to recover from it.
Breast cancer is a commonly misdiagnosed condition that can be successfully treated if caught in its early stages. However, a failure to diagnose, delay in diagnosis, or misdiagnosis may allow the cancer to progress to later stages.
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
The timing of a cancer diagnosis can have a large impact on the treatment options available to you.
Call (800) 995-1212 now for a free case review if you believe your doctor did not properly diagnose your disease.
Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
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 include:
Cold sweat
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, discomfort, 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 failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis of a heart attack can lead to death.
Not all patients experience chest pain when having a heart attack, which can sometimes lead to a misdiagnosis. Heart attacks, especially those where the pain is located in the abdomen, can be misdiagnosed as heartburn or indigestion.
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.
Failure to Diagnose Infections
Many infections are easily treated with antibiotics and other medications. However, infections may spread throughout the body and become life-threatening very quickly if not diagnosed and treated by a medical professional.
Hospitals may also find themselves facing a malpractice lawsuit if their patient develops a hospital-acquired infection (HAI). Patients recovering from surgery or awaiting treatment may have compromised immune systems, making them especially prone to infections.
At least 1 out of 10 people admitted to a hospital will get HAIs, which are linked to high patient morbidity and death.
Some common HAIs include:
Clostridium difficile or C. diff infections
Gastrointestinal conditions
Pneumonia
Sepsis or bloodstream infections
Surgical site infections
Urinary tract infections from the use of catheters
Left undiagnosed, an infection can lead to sepsis and septic shock, which may cause organ damage, organ failure, and death.
Pulmonary Embolism Misdiagnosis
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, which 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, misdiagnose, or delay the diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. Approximately 33% of undiagnosed or untreated patients die from pulmonary embolism.
If you believe a doctor misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose you or a loved one’s health issue, contact us today for a free case review.
Medical Malpractice Failure to Diagnose 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.
There are different types of strokes, but the most common are:
Hemorrhagic strokes: The result of a ruptured blood vessel in the brain that causes a brain bleed
Ischemic strokes: When a clot blocks blood flow to the brain
Transient ischemic attacks (TIA): When blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked for a few minutes. These “mini strokes” usually resolve on their own.
Symptoms of a stroke can include issues with vision, speech, coordination, and more. Sometimes, paralysis will occur on one side of the body.
Both 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, a failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis, or delay in diagnosing can lead to avoidable lifelong injuries like paralysis, loss of motor functions, seizures, or even death.
How to File a Worcester Failure to Diagnose Lawsuit
Filing a failure to diagnose lawsuit can hold medical professionals accountable for their negligence and prevent other patients from suffering a similar fate. Compensation from a lawsuit can also help you pay for any additional care needed following a medical mistake.
If you have a case, our Worcester 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 Worcester can:
Provide you with a free case review to determine if you have a case
Investigate your situation and gather evidence to prove it could have been prevented
Negotiate a failure to diagnose settlement with the defendants (a doctor, hospital, insurance company, or other medical professional)
If a settlement is unable to be reached, we’re prepared to present your case in court before a judge and jury.
Additionally, there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our team. We only get paid if we secure compensation for you.
Get the Help You Deserve
Our experienced failure to diagnose lawyers can help you understand your legal options during a free case review. Let us get you the money you deserve.
Our Massachusetts Failure to Diagnose Settlement Amounts
For decades, our failure to diagnose attorneys in Worcester have fought for victims of medical malpractice and negligence. We’ve helped thousands of people who were harmed through no fault of their own.
Our past settlements and verdicts for failure to diagnose cases include:
$3.9 Million for a patient who received a delayed diagnosed for a herniated disc
$2.45 Million for a patient in Dartmouth whose diagnosis was incorrect
$2.25 Million for a patient in New Bedford who suffered a misdiagnosis
$2 Million for a patient in Lexington who's now partially paralyzed in their back due to a delayed diagnosis
$1.5 Million for a woman in Arlington who received a delayed ovarian cancer diagnosis
$1.25 Million for a client who was misdiagnosed, which delayed his lung cancer diagnosis until it was stage 4 and inoperable
While there’s no guarantee of success in any case, our Worcester failure to diagnose lawyers will fight for the most compensation possible in your case.
Compensation from a malpractice lawsuit can help pay for medical expenses, therapy, lost wages, pain and suffering, funeral services, and more.
Let Our Worcester Failure to Diagnose Lawyers Fight for You
At Sokolove Law, we understand how terrifying an unknown or delayed medical diagnosis can be. Our compassionate Worcester medical misdiagnosis lawyers are dedicated to holding those responsible for your suffering accountable, while making the legal process as stress-free as possible for you.
Since 1979, we’ve recovered over $9.3 Billion 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.
Let us fight for the justice you deserve. Call (800) 995-1212 or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation case review.
Our Massachusetts Offices
44 School Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02108
1330 Boylston Street, Suite 400
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Worcester Failure to Diagnose Lawsuit FAQs
What constitutes failure to diagnose malpractice in Worcester, MA?
A doctor’s failure to diagnose may be considered malpractice if:
There was a doctor-patient relationship
The doctor failed to provide an accurate and timely diagnosis
The patient was injured or their condition worsened as a result of the misdiagnosis or delay in treatment
Call (800) 995-1212 now to see if our Worcester medical misdiagnosis attorneys may be able to help you pursue compensation from a failure to diagnose lawsuit.
How much do Worcester failure to diagnose attorneys charge?
At Sokolove Law, there are no hourly fees or out-of-pocket costs to work with our failure to diagnose attorneys in Worcester.
We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means we only get paid if your case results in compensation.
How long do I have to file a failure to diagnose claim in Worcester, MA?
You only have a limited amount of time to file a Worcester failure to diagnose lawsuit due to unique laws in each state known as the statute of limitations.
Once this deadline passes, you won’t be able to sue for a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose again.
At Sokolove Law, we offer free, no-obligation case reviews. Fill out our contact form now to learn more about the legal options available to you.
Sokolove Law Affiliations & Recognition
Our Professional Affiliations
American Association of Justice
Massachusetts State Bar Association
Recognition
National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
U.S. News & World Report - 2022 Best Law Firms / Best Lawyers
Martindale-Hubbell - 2022 Peer-Reviewed for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
Sokolove Law Local Reviews
Better Business Bureau® (BBB) - A+ Rating since 2013
List of Worcester Hospitals and Their Safety Grades
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a letter grade that scores hospitals based on how well they protect patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.
When compared to an A-rated hospital, your chance of dying increases by 35% in a B-rated hospital and 88% in a C-rated hospital. This research was conducted at the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
St. Vincent Hospital
123 Summer Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Hospital Safety Grade: C
UMass Memorial Medical Center — Memorial Campus
119 Belmont Street
Worcester, MA 01605
Hospital Safety Grade: C
UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus
55 Lake Avenue N.
Worcester, MA 01655
Hospital Safety Grade: C
Ready to see if you qualify for financial compensation?
Ricky A. LeBlanc is the Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law. As Managing Attorney, Ricky is responsible for all communications with prospective clients and, along with his team of paralegals and case managers, review all potential cases.
In most cases, an early cancer diagnosis is crucial to properly treating and recovering from the different forms of this disease.
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that breaks free and travels through the veins to the lungs.
