Speed matters in medicine. Arriving at the correct diagnosis as soon as possible can help a suffering patient begin their journey toward recovery. 

However, an early diagnosis is not necessarily trustworthy. A physician may incorrectly diagnose a patient with a condition. This can occur for a number of reasons. In some instances, an incorrect or missed diagnosis may be grounds for legal action when it results in harm to the individual. 

Crim Law serves clients who have suffered harm- an injury or the worsening of an existing medical condition- due to an incorrect or premature medical diagnosis. Contact our office today for a free case review. Discuss your circumstances with a West Virginia failure to diagnose attorney and receive personalized feedback.

What Is a Misdiagnosis?

A misdiagnosis is an incorrect diagnosis made by a physician. There is a range of possible outcomes that may result from a misdiagnosis.  

Typically, a patient will attend an appointment with their doctor and provide a list of symptoms they have been experiencing. From that list of symptoms, a doctor uses their knowledge and experience to determine which diagnosis is most accurate for that particular person. Many times, tests are ordered to help a doctor learn more and make a more accurate diagnosis. 

Why Do Misdiagnoses Occur?

Although the process of making a diagnosis sounds straightforward, there are a number of reasons why issues may arise that lead a misdiagnosis to occur. 

In some instances, a doctor must rely on incomplete information provided by a patient. The patient may be unable to provide the details that would have helped the doctor make a correct diagnosis. Or, the doctor may not have asked questions in a way that was understandable to the patient. In many cases, it is simply a matter of a doctor trying to make a diagnosis quickly to move on to the next patient.

Additionally, there may be problems with the testing equipment, the processing of test results, and other issues that may arise related to the diagnostic tests performed. It is not always the case that a misdiagnosis constitutes medical malpractice by a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional. When a doctor’s level of care fails to meet the standard accepted in that area of medicine, a medical malpractice claim is viable. 

What Types of Misdiagnoses Commonly Occur?

Misdiagnoses occur in a variety of situations and in relation to patients with varying symptoms and impairments. In some situations, a correct diagnosis may be made only to find out that it was made too late. This means that a condition that could have been caught earlier was not, and now a patient is suffering pain or another preventable harm. Even an early diagnosis, if incorrect, may lead to bad outcomes for a patient. 

The most commonly encountered misdiagnosis involves a patient receiving an incorrect diagnosis. Mistakes made when testing a patient or relying on incomplete information from a patient mean that a misdiagnosis is entirely possible. This is especially true when considering that different conditions and diagnoses may appear to be very similar based on the signs and symptoms described by an ailing patient. 

Making an early diagnosis can lead to a misdiagnosis. Physicians understand the importance of “catching” a medical issue sooner rather than later. This helps begin treatment at the earliest possible time. In some circumstances, a doctor may diagnose a patient with a commonly encountered condition. However, a rarer condition may actually be more accurate. Had the doctor asked additional questions, followed up on symptoms, or considered a different method of making the diagnosis, a misdiagnosis may not have occurred. 

The Consequences of an Incorrect Early Diagnosis

Unnecessary, painful, and harmful treatment may be recommended for a patient based on an early diagnosis. Consider a diagnosis that is made prematurely and leads to a patient being recommended for treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery, or taking medication with far-reaching side effects. On the other hand, when a misdiagnosis is made, the patient may fail to receive treatment that could have otherwise helped their condition. 

Consider the financial consequences of a misdiagnosis. Thousands of dollars may be spent on treatment that is not covered by most health insurance providers. These out-of-pocket costs cannot be reimbursed once paid- even if the treatment was unhelpful or harmful to the patient. Secondly, time spent away from work means less income for the patient’s family. Household bills do not go away while a person is receiving medical treatment. 

Finally, the long-term implications of an early misdiagnosis can be severe on a person’s health. In an effort to diagnose a condition as early as possible, a doctor may miss information that would have been useful in properly considering the patient’s actual medical problem. By failing to order additional tests or weigh additional factors when making a diagnosis, a doctor can significantly set a patient’s health back. 

A West Virginia Failure to Diagnose Attorney Helps Injured Victims

If a doctor’s premature diagnosis led to you being injured, receiving unnecessary medical care, and suffering financial harm, then a medical malpractice lawsuit may be your best avenue for addressing those wrongs. 

Crim Law serves clients who received early but incorrect medical diagnoses. With a team of legal professionals focused on client goals, we take seriously the responsibility of serving our clients’ needs. 

Contact our office today for a free case review. The information you receive is confidential and focused on your specific needs. A phone call can provide you with detailed, helpful feedback to help you move forward after a misdiagnosis-related injury or medical harm.