How Can a Patient Be Injured by a Misdiagnosis or Missed Diagnosis?

 Posted on January 18, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

When people visit a doctor or go to the hospital, it is usually because they are experiencing pain and discomfort, weight loss, or other symptoms. They expect to receive competent and quality care, which includes finding answers regarding their problems. Learning how to properly treat a person’s ailments is crucial to their long-term health. A correct diagnosis must be given in order to know what treatments or medication are necessary to cure or fix certain conditions. Unfortunately, doctors do not always make correct diagnoses, and in some situations, a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. Depending on the circumstances, a patient may be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim to receive compensation for the damages suffered due to a misdiagnosis. 

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is one of the most common forms of medical negligence. It occurs when a medical professional diagnoses a patient with the wrong illness, injury, or medical condition. A patient’s health can deteriorate due to a lack of treatment or improper treatment. In some situations, patients can develop entirely new health disorders if they are prescribed incorrect medications. Treating the wrong condition can also lead infections to spread throughout the body, which may result in organ failure or septic shock. 

Missed Diagnosis

When a missed or delayed diagnosis occurs, it typically means that a physician fails to properly diagnose a medical condition in a patient. In many illnesses, the timing of treatment is critical. A person’s health can then worsen over time if they do not receive treatment because their condition has gone undiagnosed. For instance, a delayed cancer diagnosis may cause cancer in one part of the body to spread to other body parts or organs, making it much more difficult to treat.

In addition to physical harm, a missed diagnosis can cause a patient to suffer emotional and psychological trauma. Not being able to trust medical personnel after experiencing harm because of medical errors can lead to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some people.

Contact a Cook County Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you suffered complications after a doctor failed to properly diagnose your illness or medical condition, you may experience long-term consequences. At Kadzai Law Group, LLC, we understand how much a misdiagnosis can impact an entire family, not just the patient. Our knowledgeable and dedicated Chicago medical negligence attorney will carefully examine the details of your case to determine liability, and we will work to make sure the responsible parties are held accountable. To schedule your free consultation, call us today at 312-229-0050.

Sources: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=098-0210

https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050K13-212.htm