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Unfortunately, delayed or misdiagnoses are not uncommon. Despite the rigorous training and certification standards to which doctors are subject, some still make diagnosis errors. In a 2014 study in the BMJ Quality & Safety journal, researchers reported that misdiagnosis affects at least one in 20 adults each year, and that roughly half of those cases had the potential to cause serious harm.
When a patient suffers harm because of a blatant, preventable diagnosis mistake, she might be eligible to file a claim or lawsuit to recover damages. Medical malpractice is a complicated area of the law and patients must prove many factors to justify a suit. Below, we review the basics about misdiagnosis and legal remedies. A misdiagnosis lawyer in Silver Spring from DuBoff & Associates, Chartered can help you with your case.
The term “misdiagnosis” refers to several types of scenarios.
There are a lot of factors and circumstances that can lead to a misdiagnosis. For example, if the patient has a very rare condition, diagnosis can be a very long and complicated process. Overworked doctors or doctors with a heavy patient load may be more likely to make mistakes, too. Also, some doctors may be apprehensive about ordering expensive diagnostic tests if they know the patient is uninsured or has little funds.
Researchers from multiple medical centers, including the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, performed a study to determine the primary causes of diagnostic errors in medicine and reported their findings in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2005. They found that the causes for errors generally fall into three categories. (In many instances, several factors present in a patient’s case led to the mistake.)
While the treating doctor is the general overseer of your care, many other medical professionals potentially play a role in your diagnosis.
Nurses and phlebotomists may make mistakes in the administration of the diagnostic tests. They can also accidentally switch or contaminate samples. Likewise, lab workers can make the same kinds of mistakes. The radiologist may misread the results or mistakenly send another patient’s results instead of yours to your primary doctor. Even transport company personnel that take the samples from your doctor to the lab can contribute to errors.
Because there are so many possible causes, factors, and parties involved in your care and diagnosis, it can be challenging to identify fault. A medical malpractice attorney can help. A lawyer who regularly handles misdiagnosis malpractice suits will be able to investigate the facts of your case, do background research, and establish which party or parties were primarily at fault and accountable for your harm.
Not all mistakes in the diagnostic process are malpractice. In order to have valid grounds upon which to pursue a lawsuit, a victim must establish several elements.
If you have a valid case, you can recover past, current, and future medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other injury-related damages. To determine if you qualify and to pursue the compensation you need, speak with a medical malpractice lawyer at DuBoff & Associates, Chartered. Contact the law firm that cares at 301-495-3131.