Has your illness been misdiagnosed?
Failure to diagnose any medical condition is a common form of medical malpractice that occurs when a doctor does not take the proper steps to promptly and correctly diagnose your medical condition. An incorrect or delayed diagnosis can result in preventable, serious, life-altering injury and, in some instances, death.
How are medical conditions misdiagnosed?
When a patient sees a doctor with a specific set of symptoms, the doctor is required to take the appropriate steps, including ordering the necessary tests, to correctly diagnose the cause of the symptoms. If the doctor fails to order the appropriate tests to make a correct diagnosis, or arrives at an incorrect diagnosis, then that may be medical malpractice. An incorrect diagnosis delays the treatment of the real condition which could result in serious life-altering injury.
Medical Conditions often misdiagnosed:
Heart Attack:
- Was an EKG performed to evaluate the heart rhythm?
- Were blood tests performed to measure the cardiac enzyme levels in the blood?
Stroke:
- Was a thorough neurologic exam performed by the doctor?
- Was a CT scan of the brain performed?
- Was an ultrasound of the arteries in the next performed?
Blood Clot:
- Was an ultrasound performed to determine if a blood clot was present?
Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot in the lungs):
- Was a lung scan or CT scan performed to look for a blood clot in the lungs?
Infection:
- Was a blood test performed to measure your white blood cell count?
- Were blood cultures performed to test for the presence of bacteria in the blood?
- Was your wound cultured?
- Were antibiotics prescribed?
These are just a few examples of how doctors or hospitals can be responsible for failing to or delaying your diagnosis. The best way to understand if your condition was improperly diagnosed is to contact us. You can do that by completing the form to right for a free legal consultation or by calling the number listed at the top of this page.
