Misdiagnosis and Medical Malpractice

As we’ve previously covered, there are several different factors that can lead to a medical malpractice case. One of the main causes of medical malpractice, however, is an incorrect diagnosis. In fact, errors during the diagnosis process are estimated to account for up to 10% of all patient deaths. This is a huge number, particularly when you consider how much we rely on doctors to tell us why we are sick.

One of the biggest types of errors to occur during the diagnosis process is a misdiagnosis. Your doctor determines you have one illness, while you actually have another. Not only are you not receiving the treatment you need for your ailment, but you may start a treatment plan for another illness you don’t have. Not having been correctly prescribed and following a treatment plan you don’t need can lead to more complications on top of your existing illness.

Sometimes a doctor doesn’t diagnose you with the wrong thing, but they may delay diagnosis. Whether your appointments continue to get pushed back or a doctor fails to find anything wrong when you are indeed ill, a delayed diagnosis can have a very negative impact. Illness can advance and growths can metastasize becoming an increasingly serious issue.

Hopefully, if you’ve found yourself in a precarious position thanks to substandard medical treatment, your health is in good standing. Regardless of the outcome, if you’ve experienced medical malpractice related to a diagnosis error, or any other reason, it is important to take action. Contact a lawyer today to learn more about the legal options that are available to you.