When you visit the doctor’s office, you trust that the healthcare provider will properly diagnose your illness or injury and administer the right treatment so you can get back on your feet and carry on with your life. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a doctor to get it wrong.
Medical misdiagnosis can result in significant complications going forward. If you develop complications following a misdiagnosis, you may be eligible for financial restitution through a medical malpractice claim. But how exactly do medical misdiagnoses happen?
Understanding medical misdiagnosis
Basically, this refers to a wrong or mistaken diagnosis. This can range from incorrect diagnosis, failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis. Thanks to a misdiagnosis, the pre-existing condition may worsen. You may also develop new conditions and injuries.
Here are some of the common causes of medical misdiagnosis:
- Communication breakdowns: A communication breakdown between the doctor and the patient, such as when the doctor fails to listen a patient’s full complaints, can result in a misdiagnosis.
- Faulty equipment: When medical equipment is not functioning as it should, it can provide inaccurate test results. This can lead to a misdiagnosis. Likewise, an unskilled healthcare provider might misinterpret test results leading to a wrong diagnosis.
So how do you deal with a misdiagnosis?
If you believe you have been misdiagnosed, start off by seeking a second opinion from an experienced healthcare provider. This will ensure that your pre-existing condition as well as the resulting complications are taken care of. Most importantly, it will ensure that you obtain the evidence you need to litigate your medical malpractice claim.
Next, you need to file your claim within the statute of limitations period. And in New Jersey, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is two years from the date of the misdiagnosis.
A medical misdiagnosis can leave you with serious complications. If you or a loved one sustains injuries due to the healthcare provider’s negligence, you deserve justice.
