Richmond Misdiagnosis Attorney
One of the most common types of medical malpractice is misdiagnosis. When a patient is misdiagnosed, the condition they are suffering may become worse and sometimes, this can lead to death. In addition, a doctor may prescribe medication for the wrong condition when they make a misdiagnosis and that can also cause further harm to the patient. If you or a loved one has been hurt due to a misdiagnosis, our Richmond misdiagnosis attorneys can help with your case.
What is a Misdiagnosis?
Misdiagnosis is a fairly broad term that refers to when doctors and healthcare professionals fail to properly assess a patient’s condition. Doctors are expected to consider all symptoms a patient is experiencing, and review the full facts of the case before making a diagnosis. A misdiagnosis can occur when doctors do not properly analyze test results, when they do not review medical reports, and any time they do not apply their medical training appropriately.
Misdiagnosis is much more serious than diagnosing a patient with one condition when they are suffering from another. It is a very serious form of medical negligence and when it occurs, doctors and other healthcare professionals can be held liable.
Common Types of Misdiagnosis
The three conditions that are most commonly misdiagnosed are cancer, infections, and vascular events. Vascular events include conditions such as aortic aneurysms, aortic dissections, and stokes. Patients are sometimes told they simply have a headache, anxiety, or vertigo and so they do not receive the medical treatment they need. As a result, they then suffer from serious injuries that remain with them for their entire life.
Infections such as sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia are also commonly misdiagnosed. When a patient is being treated for another condition, doctors can easily overlook the symptoms and signs of infection. While a patient may not suffer from the original condition, an undiagnosed infection can be fatal.
Breast cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer are the most common cancers to be misdiagnosed. One of the most common mistakes that leads to a cancer being misdiagnosed is a lack of communication. A doctor may see something of concern on a radiology scan, but they do not mention it to the patient and do not follow up with the patient. In cancer cases, this is especially concerning. Without proper treatment that begins as soon as possible, a patient’s cancer can become much worse and the patient may even lose their life because of it.
Call Our Virginia Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been misdiagnosed and suffered additional harm as a result, call our Richmond medical malpractice lawyers today. At MichieHamlett, our experienced attorneys know how to hold doctors and medical staff liable when patients are hurt, and we want to put our experience to work for you. Call us today at (434) 951-7200 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with one of our knowledgeable attorneys so we can get started on your case.
