Misdiagnosis, Overdiagnosis, & Other Diagnostic Errors Can Be Medical Malpractice, Here’s How…

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We go to the doctor to get professional care and trust they are the expert on your symptoms. Have you recently gone to the doctor and received a diagnosis, but think something doesn’t seem right? There’s a chance you could be correct.

Even the most skilled medical professional can make a diagnostic error, which can lead to wasted time and money. Read on to learn more about common diagnostic errors and how Ross Moore Law can fight for you if you or a loved one has experienced a diagnostic mistake.  

The Most Common Diagnostic Errors 

A diagnostic error is a diagnosis that is missed, wrong, or delayed, ultimately resulting in additional testing to determine what’s causing your symptoms. There are a few different types of diagnostic errors that a medical professional may make. Protect yourself and your health by familiarizing yourself with the different types.

  • Delayed diagnosis: A delayed diagnosis is when your doctor diagnoses you correctly, but it took a long time for you to finally receive a diagnosis. In the case of a delayed diagnosis, there is the chance that an illness or disease has progressed further than it would have if it was caught earlier. 
  • Failed to recognize complications: This is when your doctor has correctly diagnosed you but failed to note factors that could complicate or aggravate the illness. This could include your medications, your medical history, or your lifestyle. 
  • Failed to diagnose related disease: This error occurs when you have received a correct diagnosis, but your doctor failed to detect a disease related to the diagnosis you received. This leads to more testing to continue exploring your symptoms.
  • Failed to diagnose unrelated disease: This is when you’ve received your diagnosis, but an unrelated disease goes undiagnosed by your doctor. Once again, this can lead to more testing to determine the cause of your symptoms that are still present. 
  • Missed diagnosis: A missed diagnosis is when you receive a clean bill of health, despite the fact that you’re suffering from an unknown illness. When you visit your doctor, discuss any symptoms you’ve had since your last appointment, even if you’re not experiencing them at that time. 
  • Misdiagnosis: This type of error occurs when your doctor gives you an incorrect diagnosis. This could be caused by cognitive errors or misreading a test or lab result.
  • Overdiagnosis: This is when your doctor detects an abnormality, but the diagnosis of this abnormality does not benefit the patient, as it will never cause symptoms or worsen. This could potentially lead to unnecessary treatment.

When are Diagnostic Errors Considered Malpractice?  

Many malpractice lawsuits are based on a failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis claim. While those diagnostic errors are not necessarily considered malpractice on their own, they could lead to malpractice, such as improper medical care, delayed medical care, or no medical treatment. When a diagnostic error leads to the progression and worsening of an illness, a malpractice suit may be the right choice 

What to Do If You Have Suffered a Diagnostic Error  

If you suspect you’ve received a misdiagnosis or other diagnostic error, trust your gut and seek out an opinion from another physician. Be sure to keep all of your paperwork, medical records, bills, receipts, and documentation of missed work due to your illness. These pieces of evidence can help you when it comes to taking legal action.

Lastly, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney, like Ross Moore Law, to navigate your case. You deserve compensation for what you’ve been through, and they can help you build your malpractice lawsuit and fight for you in the courtroom.

Contact Ross Moore Law Today! 

When seeking medical attention, we are always hoping to find the best care and an answer to our health problems. Sometimes, even more issues can arise when you seek help from a medical professional. If you or someone you know has been a victim of medical malpractice, Ross Moore Law is here to help. 

Looking for a local personal injury attorney to handle your case? Our team at Ross Moore Law is eager to put our experience to work for you. Call us today or book a free consultation online! 

Conveniently located in the heart of Atlanta, GA, we are proud to serve clients throughout the surrounding areas of Athens, Alpharetta, Peachtree Corners, Marietta and more! In addition to Georgia clients, we welcome Tennessee clients as well! Get in touch today.

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