Doctors help people treat traumatic injuries and understand illnesses. Frequently, patients see a doctor because they have developed concerning symptoms. They may schedule an appointment with their primary care physician or head to an urgent care facility or even an emergency room when the symptoms are particularly alarming.
Patients typically trust doctors to make sense of their symptoms and help diagnose the condition causing them. That way, the physician can recommend an appropriate course of treatment. Unfortunately, it is more common than people realize for doctors to make significant diagnostic mistakes. There are two main ways in which a physician might commit a serious diagnostic area that could constitute medical malpractice.
A failure to diagnose
Doctors do not always diagnose a patient when they present concerning symptoms. Doctors might believe that the symptoms are false or exaggerated. They may simply instruct that person to watch their symptoms to see if they worsen. A failure to diagnose a patient can lead to very serious medical issues in the future. Someone with discomfort and dizziness caused by internal bleeding, for example, could lose enough blood for their condition to threaten their life. Cancer might continue progressing for weeks before someone receives a proper diagnosis. Diagnostic failures can lead to poor outcomes for patients.
Misdiagnosis
The only thing worse than not diagnosing a patient might be diagnosing them with the wrong condition. Doing so leaves the doctor and the patient with a false sense of security. Even worse, a misdiagnosis might lead to them receiving treatment that they do not actually require. In some cases, the treatment could cause additional medical complications or serious side effects. Like a failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis also delays treatment, allowing a condition to worsen and threaten someone’s long-term health.
A patient who has experienced a substantial diagnostic error that has affected their physical health and finances may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit can potentially force a medical facility to review its practices and can reimburse a patient for the losses generated by inadequate medical care. Patients who understand how common and concerning diagnostic errors can be may be better able to recognize when they have not received appropriate medical treatment.
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