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Is Misdiagnosis Included In Medical Malpractice Law?

By Brown Moore

December 26, 2019

Home News & Resources Is Misdiagnosis Included In Medical Malpractice Law?

When you or a loved one go see a doctor, the last thing you expect is to be misdiagnosed. A misdiagnosis can cause patients to further harm and delay necessary treatment. If you have been misdiagnosed, you may be entitled to compensation. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, We have extensive experience in this area of law and are ready to help. We are ready to help when you need a Charlotte medical malpractice attorney.

What causes a doctor or other healthcare professional to misdiagnose someone?

Not all incidents of misdiagnosis are the fault of a medical professional. Our bodies are complicated, and no doctor has the ability to diagnose patients correctly 100% of the time. However, there are times when the health care provider’s careless or negligent actions contribute to a misdiagnosis. This could mean that there is a case of medical malpractice.

Johns Hopkins researchers say that medical errors kill as many as 250,000 people each year in this country. These researchers have also concluded that diagnostic errors cause the most patient harm of all medical mistakes, and accounts for the largest portion of all medical malpractice claims.

According to researchers, a “misdiagnosis leads to significant permanent injury or death in as many as 80,000 to 160,000 patients annually.”

When a doctor improperly diagnoses a patient, there is a chance that the patient will not receive timely care for their medical situation. There is also a chance that they will receive no treatment at all for what ails them. There are a few possible scenarios for a patient who has been misdiagnosed:

  • The misdiagnosis is discovered later, causing a patient to need significantly more aggressive treatment. This could lead to increased medical costs as well as tremendous pain and suffering that the patient would not otherwise have experienced.
  • The patient could die due to a misdiagnosis if the mistake is discovered too late, particularly for cases of cancer or other chronic illnesses.

What contributes to a misdiagnosis?

There are several factors that could lead to a misdiagnosis. This could include:

  • doctors or nurses who are overworked
  • miscommunication between doctors and other healthcare staff
  • a failure to obtain a full patient medical history
  • failing to perform certain tests or failing to act on test results

Let us help you get the compensation you deserve

If you or someone you love has been misdiagnosed by a doctor and sustained injuries or illness, please seek legal assistance immediately. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, we are ready to investigate your case and help you secure the compensation you are entitled to. This could include:

  • Coverage of all medical expenses related to the misdiagnosis
  • Coverage of lost wages if you cannot work
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Possible punitive damages against the doctor responsible

When you need a Charlotte medical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 800-948-0577.