People typically cannot diagnose their own medical challenges. Left to their own devices, they might catastrophize their situations by searching their symptoms online. It is easy for people to end up worrying that they have very serious medical issues because of attempts to diagnose themselves.
Patients generally rely on a physician to determine what actually causes their symptoms. Doctors can order tests to determine the true cause of a patient’s symptoms. Unfortunately, many doctors rush through the diagnostic process instead of giving each patient the time and attention they deserve.
Diagnostic errors are shockingly common and are a leading form of medical malpractice.
How often do doctors make diagnostic mistakes?
Many patients who don’t receive a proper diagnosis never discover that fact. They may simply manage their symptoms with over-the-counter medication until they improve. In more severe cases, additional attempts to seek medical care might eventually result in an accurate diagnosis.
Other times, patients die without receiving the diagnosis and treatment they require. An analysis of autopsy results shows that between 10 and 20% of postmortem evaluations turn up undiagnosed medical conditions.
In other words, the failure to diagnose patients is a common issue that contributes to tens of thousands of preventable deaths every year. Many other patients may experience poor medical outcomes because they don’t receive a prompt diagnosis or get diagnosed with the wrong condition.
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit can help struggling patients and grieving families hold doctors accountable. Diagnostic errors can lead to major expenses and significant medical consequences. A successful lawsuit can help those affected by malpractice offset the losses they incur.
