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Going to the doctor can be nerve-wracking enough. Finding out long after the fact that you have a significant medical condition that could have been caught and treated before it took its toll can be devastating. One study found that misdiagnosing patients may harm nearly 800,000 people in the United States each year. These are individuals who become permanently disabled or pass away due to misdiagnosis and diagnostic errors.
Here’s a closer look at how medical professionals misdiagnosing medical conditions can have dangerous and deadly consequences for patients.
What Is a Misdiagnosis?
Misdiagnosis involves a medical professional incorrectly identifying a patient’s illness or other medical condition. This includes failure to diagnose, which can occur when a medical practitioner fails to uncover the nature of a medical condition or problem when a comparably trained practitioner would have reasonably been able to arrive at the correct diagnosis under the same circumstances.
Some of the most common types of medical misdiagnosis in New York can include:
- Incorrectly diagnosing a medical condition
- Failure to diagnose a medical condition
- Delayed diagnosis of a medical issue or condition
Medical misdiagnosis cases can be complicated because failure to diagnose can also lead to a medical professional not recognizing potential complications or not recognizing related injuries or illnesses. You trust your doctor to do what’s best for you, communicating about your condition and giving you the information you need to make informed healthcare decisions. Misdiagnosis can cause a devastating chain reaction of events that can impact you for the rest of your life.
Risks and Consequences of Misdiagnosing Medical Conditions
A significant number of medical conditions can be misdiagnosed. One of the most common is cancer. When a doctor or other medical provider fails to diagnose a deadly disease or medical condition like cancer, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, or other issues, the results can be deadly. Failing to diagnose and treat a medical issue can cause it to spread or worsen until it destroys vital tissues and organ systems beyond the point of medical intervention. In medicine, early detection can be lifesaving.
Some of the risks associated with the misdiagnosis of significant medical conditions include:
- Delayed treatment
- Worsening health outcomes
- Adverse side effects from treating the wrong condition
- Incorrect or unnecessary surgeries or other treatments
- Allowing other dangerous medical conditions to develop
- Death
Many patients who experience a misdiagnosis also experience emotional distress, psychological harm, and an increased financial burden due to the overwhelming medical expenses associated with treating the wrong condition before treating the correct condition.
Legal Recourse for Patients
Patients experiencing the consequences of a medical misdiagnosis may have legal options for recovering compensation for their medical expenses and other financial losses. While every medical malpractice case is unique, in many cases, patients can pursue compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Pursuing compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit in New York can be challenging without the help of an experienced medical malpractice lawyer helping you navigate the process. Medical malpractice and misdiagnosis cases tend to be complex. It takes a resourceful and skilled attorney to evaluate your situation and help you understand your legal options for pursuing maximum compensation for your harm.
A New York Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help
Failing to diagnose an injury or medical condition can result in significant and sometimes irreversible damage to your physical, mental, and financial health. The compassionate medical malpractice attorneys at Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC, want to help you through this challenging time and pursue meaningful compensation for your financial and personal losses. Contact our office today to arrange a case review to discuss your situation.
Carden Dotzler Hammond, PLLC represents clients in Syracuse, Central New York, and in the following towns of Onondaga County: Camillus, Cicero, Clay, Dewitt, Elbridge, Geddes, Manlius, Marcellus, Onondaga, Salina, Skaneateles, Baldwinsville, East Syracuse, Fayetteville, Jefferson County, Liverpool, North Syracuse, and Solvay.