Common Causes of Misdiagnosis
When people visit a doctor, they expect to receive an accurate diagnosis and recommendations for treatments. Although the majority of doctors exercise due care when dealing with patients, mistakes can happen. They may diagnose patients with incorrect condition or fail to give a diagnosis as well. Unfortunately, this can lead to more complications and even death.
Here are some of the common causes of misdiagnosis.
Failing to Order the Proper Testing
Doctors evaluate their patients’ symptoms and then order the appropriate tests. If the proper tests are not ordered, doctors can miss underlying issues a patient is experiencing. That is why it is important for doctors to perform as many tests as possible to figure out what condition a patient truly has.
No Proper Training for Advanced Diseases
There are thousands upon thousands of diseases that can affect humans. Some patients may expect doctors to be aware of all the types of diseases out there, but this is not always possible. There are some diseases that are so rare that some doctors are not fully aware of them. They might confuse the symptoms of the rare disease with a more common medical condition.
Symptoms Are Similar to Other Medical Conditions
Many medical conditions share many of the same symptoms. Lupus, for example, is categorized by fatigue, rash, and joint pain. These symptoms are also common in fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Therefore, a doctor may diagnose a patient with fibromyalgia, for instance, instead of lupus. Then, the patient receives treatment for a condition they don’t actually have.
Doctors Aren’t Perfect
Although doctors are very intelligent and highly educated individuals, they are still human. They can still make mistakes just like anyone else. They may be stressed out or tired and make an error in judgment. Unfortunately, this kind of mistake can have devastating consequences in the medical field. A patient who receives a misdiagnosis may suffer serious injuries or death.
Were You Misdiagnosed?
If your doctor recently diagnosed you with the wrong medical condition, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to discuss your case with a skilled medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. He or she can help you bring a timely claim and look out for your best interests. With an experienced lawyer by your side, like medical malpractice lawyer in Miami, FL, you have a higher chance of receiving the compensation you truly deserve.
Thank you to the law firm of Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. for their insight into medical malpractice and the law.