| Physicians and other medical personnel are often | | | | is. For example, a patient can be informed that he has |
| regarded as the "be-all and end-all" when it comes to | | | | a malignant tumor that is actually benign, causing the |
| diagnosing a patient's physical and mental problems | | | | patient to undergo unnecessary and potentially |
| and keeping people healthy. | | | | debilitating cancer treatments. |
| Unfortunately, some patients are victims of medical | | | | Reasons for Misdiagnosis |
| misdiagnosis that can lead to further health | | | | Medical personnel and medical technicians are human, |
| complications or even death. When a medical | | | | and all humans make mistakes. There is a seemingly |
| professional fails to provide an established standard | | | | endless list of reasons why a medical misdiagnosis can |
| level of care resulting in a mistake which is severe | | | | occur. Some of the common reasons include: |
| enough to injure a patient who would otherwise not | | | | - Untrained or inexperienced medical staff |
| have experienced the physical or emotional | | | | - Overworked, tired medical staff, especially in |
| impediments, medical malpractice lawsuits can often | | | | emergency room settings |
| be filed. | | | | - Failure to recognize and diagnose symptoms |
| Types of Misdiagnosis | | | | - Failure to recognize high-risk patients |
| Medical misdiagnosis can occur during routine | | | | - Failure to perform the proper medical tests |
| examinations, follow-up appointments, in a hospital or | | | | - Failure to refer a patient to a specialist |
| emergency room setting or during testing procedures. | | | | - Errors in testing |
| Misdiagnosis can lead to delayed treatment for | | | | - Testing result delays |
| common conditions such as: | | | | - Equipment malfunction |
| - Cancer, especially breast, lung, colon and cervical | | | | It is difficult to accurately report how many |
| cancer | | | | misdiagnosis cases actually occur every year because |
| - Heart attacks | | | | many go unreported and many are unrecognized. |
| - Appendicitis | | | | Some statistics have estimated that as many as 20% |
| - Stroke | | | | of deadly illnesses are misdiagnosed. As a result, the |
| - Meningitis | | | | patient and the patient's family can be left with: |
| - Pulmonary artery blockage | | | | - Extreme medical expenses |
| - Blood clots | | | | - Lost wages |
| - Diabetes | | | | - Pain and suffering |
| In many cases, prompt diagnosis and subsequent | | | | If you feel that you or a loved one has been a victim |
| treatment can slow down or even eliminate these | | | | of medical misdiagnosis, do not wait to speak to a |
| conditions from the body. However, when | | | | medical malpractice attorney. Each state has its own |
| misdiagnosed, patients can suffer traumatic | | | | statue of limitations on when a medical malpractice |
| consequences when these conditions are allowed to | | | | lawsuit can be filed, and a knowledgeable attorney will |
| fester or grow. | | | | be able to determine if you have a case and expedite |
| It is also possible for medical personnel to misdiagnose | | | | your claim. |
| a health problem as being more severe than it actually | | | | |