Roanoke Misdiagnosis Attorney
When you have signs or symptoms of a condition or disease, or you visit a healthcare provider for a routine check-up or laboratory tests, you should be able to expect that your healthcare provider will properly diagnose any condition or disease that you have. If your primary care physician cannot accurately provide a diagnosis, you should be able to expect that your doctor will refer you to a specialist who can provide you with an accurate and timely diagnosis, allowing you to seek the treatment you need. Yet many patients suffer severe and life-threatening harm due to a misdiagnosis.
If you or someone you love suffered serious or deadly harm due to a misdiagnosis, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent healthcare provider who misdiagnosed you. An experienced Roanoke misdiagnosis lawyer at our firm can begin working with you on your case.
What is a Misdiagnosis in Roanoke?
A misdiagnosis, or a missed diagnosis, is a term that refers to a scenario in which a healthcare provider offers you a diagnosis based on your symptoms, an exam, or tests, but the diagnosis is wrong. In some cases, a misdiagnosis means that a much more serious condition is not delayed with enough time for treatment. In other cases, a more serious condition is diagnosed, leading to unnecessary invasive tests or procedures.
Common Types of Roanoke, VA Misdiagnosis Claims We Handle
Our firm handles many different types of misdiagnosis claims, and a wide variety of medical malpractice lawsuits more generally. The following are some of the common issues that arise in misdiagnosis claims we handle:
- Failure to diagnose;
- Delayed diagnosis;
- Unnecessary invasive tests; and
- Missed diagnosis.
Statute of Limitations for a Misdiagnosis Lawsuit in Roanoke
The statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits in general is two years under Virginia law. In most cases, the clock on the statute of limitations will begin ticking on the day the healthcare provider is negligent, and the patient will have two years from that date to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against any liable healthcare provider. Once the clock on the statute of limitations runs out, the patient’s claim will become time-barred by Virginia law, and that patient will not be able to seek financial compensation by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
However, it is critical to understand that many misdiagnosis claims may have an extended statute of limitations. According to Virginia law, “in a claim for the negligent failure to diagnose a malignant tumor, cancer, or an intracranial, intraspinal, or spinal schwannoma,” the statute of limitations is extended to one year from the date that the patient learns the correct diagnosis, and thus realizes that the original misdiagnosis may constitute malpractice and give rise to a lawsuit.
Contact Our Roanoke Misdiagnosis Attorneys Today for More Information
When you have received a misdiagnosis from a healthcare provider and that misdiagnosis has resulted in a delayed diagnosis, a missed diagnosis, a failure to diagnose the actual condition, or unnecessary invasive tests, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our Roanoke misdiagnosis lawyers to learn more about your eligibility for filing a claim for financial compensation. Contact MichieHamlett today to learn more.
