What is medical misdiagnosis, and how does it happen?

Cases involving medical missteps can have far-reaching consequences. If you sustain injuries courtesy of the healthcare provider’s mistake, you may be eligible for compensation for the resulting economic and non-economic damages through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Medical practitioners owe their patient’s a great deal of responsibility. A minor mistake can lead to life-altering injuries or even death. One of the most common mistakes healthcare providers make while handling their patients is medical misdiagnosis.

Understanding medical misdiagnosis

Basically, a misdiagnosis happens when a healthcare provider fails to accurately diagnose the patient’s condition. It can either be the result of a wrong or a delayed diagnosis and is mostly attributable to the healthcare provider’s fault. Misdiagnosis can lead to a needless deterioration of the patient’s health. It can also result in extra time and effort to treat the patient. And in a worst-case scenario, it can lead to wrongful death.

Several factors can lead to a misdiagnosis. Here are the most common ones:

• Incompetence: When a healthcare provider does not have the appropriate skills to collect and analyze specimens from the patient, they are likely to make diagnostic mistakes.
• Lack of diagnostic testing: Some conditions require more than a single diagnosis to ascertain. When a healthcare provider fails to conduct or recommend appropriate tests, the may put the patient’s health at risk.
• Overassurance: Sometimes doctors are 100% convinced they’re right – so they resist the idea of sending a patient to a specialist when they should. That can be a disaster.

If your condition deteriorates due to a misdiagnosis, you deserve justice. Knowing your legal rights and obligations can be key to successfully pursuing compensation for the resulting damages.