Failure To Diagnose Medical Malpractice

Doctors can make mistakes in many ways that can cause unnecessary and serious injury or complications for patients. One of the most common mistakes is the failure to diagnose any existing medical conditions. In fact, reports indicate that failing to diagnose is one of the most frequent medical malpractice claim against medical professionals in the U.S.

At The Casper Firm, we have seen how a failed diagnosis can cause serious complications and can even lead to death, and we are here to help you recover.

How Are Diagnoses Missed?

If you have symptoms and are experiencing concerning changes in your body, you will likely make an appointment with your physician. Based on an examination of your symptoms and answers you provide to questions, your physician should be able to diagnose your condition, run the necessary tests to diagnose you, or refer you to a specialist who has the resources and specialized knowledge to diagnose you. All too often, however, a doctor may overlook signs of a serious illness and may simply send you home, telling you not to worry or diagnosing you with a relatively minor condition.

If your symptoms continue, you may keep telling yourself it is not a concern – after all, your doctor said so. Months or even years later, you may go back to your doctor with increased issues or may visit a second physician for a different opinion, only to learn that you have a serious disease or condition that should have been diagnosed initially. Some of the most common failed diagnoses involve the following:

Cancer, including melanoma, colon, breast, or lung cancer;
Heart attacks and heart failure;
Meningitis.

If any of these serious conditions are not diagnosed, a patient will not receive the highly important treatment they need. Diseases can quickly progress and, by the time they are finally diagnosed, patients may experience life-threatening complications or the disease may be in an untreatable stage.

Were You The Victim Of Medical Malpractice?

Not every missed diagnosis will rise to the level of medical malpractice. In order to constitute malpractice, the doctor’s actions must fall below the standard of care required for such medical professionals. This means that another reasonable doctor with the same training would have acted differently in your situation and would likely not have missed the diagnosis. If another doctor would have performed certain tests or examinations that your physician failed to do, they may be held liable for your unnecessary medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering they caused by their negligent failure to diagnose.

Call a Baltimore Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Free Consultation

Knowing whether your missed diagnosis rose to the level of medical malpractice can be challenging and often requires the assistance of medical experts. The skilled medical malpractice lawyers at The Casper Firm, LLC have resources to investigate your claims and help prove your claim if you were the victim of medical negligence. We have extensive knowledge of malpractice laws and procedures and will always strive for the best possible resolution for you. If you want to discuss a possible medical malpractice case, please call our office today at 888-387-3878.