What causes a delayed diagnosis?

If your immune system is working as it should, then there are many minor illnesses that your body might be able to shake off. When an illness becomes more serious, you’re going to need medical intervention.

This might be in the hospital, which is technically the safest place you can be, at least that’s the way it’s supposed to work. Generally, doctors get it right and they will improve your condition. Sadly, in a minority of cases, they make errors that can worsen your condition.

One of the more common errors is delayed diagnosis. Early diagnosis is one of the most crucial parts of your treatment, so how do doctors get it wrong?

Doctors in a rush

Of course, doctors have to be efficient because they are typically treating multiple people at any given time. However, this should not come at the expense of medical standards. Occasionally, doctors will have too much on their plates, which means they don’t spend the time with you that they should.

Listening to you describe your symptoms and carrying out the appropriate tests is pivotal to your improvement. If this doesn’t happen, then your condition is simply not going to get better and it could even deteriorate rapidly.

A breakdown in communication

You might have more than one doctor examine your case, and there will be a team of staff in the background passing on test results and interpreting them. What this means is that everyone needs to communicate effectively. If communication breaks down within your medical team, this could lead to a delayed diagnosis and other complications.

Medical errors are serious because your life could be at stake. If your condition has been worsened through negligence, make sure you look into your legal options.