Some of the most serious medical errors that can occur are diagnosis errors, including a misdiagnosis, a failure to diagnose, and a delayed diagnosis. In fact, a misdiagnosis occurs in 10-15% of all cases, while a delay in diagnosis occurs almost as frequently. Whether it's due to a miscommunication between doctor and patient, a rushed diagnosis, or simply human error, these mistakes can have serious consequences. In some cases, a diagnosis error can result in the delay or lack of treatment for a serious condition. In other cases, patients may be unnecessarily subjected to costly and invasive procedures. And in the worst cases, patients may receive the wrong medication or treatment, which can cause serious harm or even death. Diagnosis errors can occur for a variety of reasons, including doctor error, failure to order appropriate tests, and misinterpreting test results. Unfortunately, devastating consequences can result so it is important to be aware of the signs that something may be wrong. Some conditions that can be particularly sensitive to diagnosis errors include:
- Sepsis and other infections
- Stroke
- Lung and other cancers that depend on early detection
- Heart attack
- Severe blood clots
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
Delay, failure, or mistakes in diagnosis can cause these conditions to worsen, making them difficult or impossible to treat effectively. Additionally, a patient may receive unnecessary or incorrect treatment for their condition. Either way, the consequences of these errors can be extremely serious. As a result, it is important for medical professionals to take every possible precaution to ensure that their patients receive an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner.
If you believe you or a loved one have suffered injuries resulting from a diagnosis error, it is important to speak with attorneys with experience in the field. Diagnosis errors require specific experience to litigate and SGT has been handling these cases for decades.
