Patients depend on their physicians to correctly diagnose any medical conditions they may have, as well as depend on whatever medical treatment their doctor recommends is the best option for their condition. When a patient is misdiagnosed with a condition they don’t have, they are not only not receiving the correct treatment for the condition they do have, but also receiving treatment for a condition they don’t have, which can put them in serious medical danger.
Unfortunately, this happens far too often. Studies show that in about half of patients who are misdiagnosed, there is the potential that the patient will suffer from severe harm. Patients who suffer because of misdiagnosis may be able to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit. A malpractice attorney can evaluate a case to make that determination.
At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys have successfully handled cases involving delayed diagnosis that led to severe harm. Contact our office at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options and how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Misdiagnosis is not the only issue that can harm a patient. Other issues include missed diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or incorrect diagnosis.
A missed diagnosis occurs when a physician wrongly declares that the patient is healthy and has nothing wrong with them. Instead, the patient has a condition or disease that goes untreated because the doctor failed to diagnose it properly.
When a doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis, they reach the wrong conclusion about what is causing the patient’s symptoms, resulting in the doctor diagnosing the patient with a condition they do not have. The patient can be harmed by the treatment the doctor orders for the wrong diagnosis and by the lack of treatment they are not receiving for the actual medical condition they do have.
A delayed diagnosis results in a significant amount of time between when the patient first approaches the doctor complaining about the issue and when the doctor finally correctly diagnoses the issue. There may have been a missed diagnosis, incorrect diagnosis, or misdiagnosis in the interim, however, a great amount of time has passed before the patient finally receives the proper treatment. It is not uncommon for this delay in treatment to cause even more medical problems for the patient.
It is estimated that there are 12 million people who are misdiagnosed each year – often with fatal consequences. An estimated 40,000 to 80,000 people die annually from complications from these misdiagnoses. Multiple studies have found that incorrect or delayed diagnosis happens much more frequently than patients realize. One study conducted by the National Academy of Medicine found that the majority of us will receive at least one incorrect or late diagnosis in our lives.
In order to be successful in a medical malpractice lawsuit, there are certain elements that a malpractice attorney must prove:
If you believe a doctor’s mistake has caused you harm, it is critical to act quickly. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our medical malpractice attorneys represent victims of surgical errors and medical negligence. We offer free, confidential consultations and represent clients on a contingency-fee-basis—meaning you won’t pay any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact our office today at 833-997-1774 to schedule your free consultation with a doctor malpractice lawyer, and let us help you understand your legal options.
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