Visiting a healthcare provider should not involve worrying about whether you will be misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals sometimes make serious mistakes during the diagnostic process. In certain cases, a patient’s symptoms may not point to a serious condition, but the provider still orders unnecessary and invasive tests. These procedures can cause physical harm and lead to significant financial costs.

If you have suffered because of unnecessary testing, you may have grounds to pursue a misdiagnosis claim. A Roanoke unnecessary/invasive tests lawyer at MichieHamlett can evaluate your situation, explain your options, and guide you through the process of filing a claim.

Contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys today.

Learning About Unnecessary Invasive Tests in Roanoke

Unnecessary invasive tests can result in significant financial costs and physical burdens. Many invasive tests cause patients substantial pain, and some types of invasive testing can result in infections and other problems that require follow-up treatment or care at additional cost and time to the patient. Generally speaking, invasive tests are those that require a healthcare provider to enter into a body part or to break the skin in some capacity in order to examine the body part or to perform a biopsy. The following are some facts and figures about unnecessary tests and procedures from ProPublica:

  • Every year, more than 600,000 patients have a treatment that they do not actually require, which leads to approximately $282 million in unnecessary medical costs
  • Approximately 75 percent of women have cervical cancer screenings that are unnecessary based on current guidance and recommendations
  • About one-third of all medical costs for tests involves unnecessary care or procedures
  • Around 85 percent of tests conducted on healthy patients prior to surgical procedures are unnecessary, resulting in approximately $86 million every year
  • Annual heart tests are performed each year on low-risk patients who do not need these procedures, resulting in about $40 million

Types of Invasive Tests and Procedures in Roanoke, VA That May Be Unnecessary

Some types of tests and diagnostic procedures are more invasive than others. Examples of potentially unnecessary invasive tests and procedures include but are not limited to the following:

  • Exploratory surgery of any type;
  • Cardiac catheterization, in which a surgeon inserts a catheter into part of the patient’s heart to evaluate the patient’s heart health;
  • Taking blood samples;
  • Conducting biopsies on any part of the body;
  • Colonoscopies; and
  • Any other testing procedure that breaks the skin

You should ask any questions and raise any concerns before your healthcare provider performs any type of invasive testing procedure. Seeking a second opinion may be able to help you make an informed decision before you undergo an invasive testing procedure that ultimately may be unnecessary.

Contact a Roanoke Unnecessary/Invasive Tests Lawyer Today

If you were misdiagnosed by a healthcare provider and underwent one or more unnecessary invasive tests as a result, you may be eligible to file a claim for financial compensation. A Roanoke unnecessary/invasive tests lawyer at MichieHamlett can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you move forward against the responsible parties. Contact us today to get started on your claim.