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Medical Malpractice
Attorneys And Trained Medical
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Trust our firm to deliver exceptional client service no matter how complex your medical malpractice case is.

Medical Malpractice
Attorneys And Trained
Medical
Professionals

Trust our firm to deliver exceptional client service no matter how complex your medical malpractice case is.

5 Commonly Missed Diagnoses

On Behalf of | Apr 5, 2018 | Misdiagnosis

Medical negligence can take many forms. From surgical errors to prescribing a dangerous combination of medication, patients can suffer serious conditions. Unfortunately, a wide array of medical malpractice cases can be directly traced back to diagnostic errors – either delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of a condition.

Medical professionals have a vast array of diagnostic tools available to them to determine an illness, infection, disease or life-altering condition. From blood tests to imaging to neurological examination, a doctor can follow numerous paths to arrive at a diagnosis and develop a course of treatment. However, it is not uncommon for crucial data to be missed or misinterpreted.

Five of the most commonly missed diagnoses are the following:

  • Heart attack: In general terms, people know the main symptoms of a heart attack will commonly include chest pain and numbness in the left arm. However, other symptoms might lead a doctor toward a different diagnosis. For example, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and cold sweats could mimic a set of symptoms more commonly associated with the flu.
  • Cancer: A delayed cancer diagnosis can have devastating, fatal consequences. Three of the most commonly missed cancer diagnoses are lung cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancers.
  • Pulmonary embolism: Occurring when a blood clot forms in or travels to the lungs through the bloodstream, a pulmonary embolism can be a challenge to diagnose because it shares symptoms with a chest cold, asthma or pneumonia.
  • Drug overdose: Drug intoxication or a drug overdose might also present similar symptoms as other medical conditions. Additionally, patients might not be completely honest about their use of illegal substances, leading to an incomplete history.
  • Stroke: A stroke diagnosis might come late because different people experience the symptoms differently. Many people experience stroke symptoms – weakness, confusion, poor coordination, difficulty speaking – suddenly, in a very short time period. Still others might experience a much slower onset.

While every case is unique and every patient struggles with a specific set of symptoms and consequences, medical professionals are trusted to develop an accurate diagnosis in a reasonable amount of time. When medical professionals fail in this regard and thus fail to meet the standard of care the consequences can be devastating. A delayed cancer diagnosis, for example, can very literally mean the difference between life and death.

With a skilled medical malpractice attorney on your side, you can get the answers you need and pursue full and fair monetary compensation based on your specific situation.