When you do not feel well and home remedies are not working, you see a doctor to help you understand what is wrong. You rely on their experience and skill to determine your medical condition and provide the right course of treatment after that. They must make the correct diagnosis; otherwise, your condition may worsen.
All doctors and health care providers must deliver a medical standard of care, and that begins with a proper diagnosis. Therefore, they must thoroughly investigate each patient’s case before drawing conclusions. A failure to diagnose and a misdiagnosis can be detrimental or even fatal.
How does a failure to diagnose happen?
Failing to diagnose and misdiagnosing an illness or injury can lead to delayed treatment, improper medical care and/or no treatment at all. When that happens and your medical condition worsens, you may have an actionable medical malpractice lawsuit. A failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis occurs in the following circumstances:
- The doctor fails to detect signs and symptoms
- The doctor misinterprets signs and symptoms
- The doctor did not perform assessments and evaluations that another reasonable doctor would have
- The doctor did not order the necessary tests that would have benefited an accurate diagnosis
- The doctor makes the proper diagnosis but fails to identify and address complications of the illness or injury
- The doctor fails to investigate the patient’s medical history before diagnosis or running tests
While it is true that illnesses and injuries manifest in various ways, a doctor must be competent and have the reasonable expertise to address these. As the injured patient, you must prove that a licensed doctor or similar health care provider in the same specialty or field would have accurately diagnosed your illness or injury.
Do you have a medical malpractice case?
You have the right to sue your health care provider if they fail to diagnose or misdiagnose you, leading you to suffer preventable damages. Professional negligence is answerable to the law, and you can fight for the different damages due to you.
