Imagine receiving treatment for a wrong illness while the actual disease continues ravaging you. By the time you realize something is wrong, it might be too late to get the proper treatment.
A delayed or wrong diagnosis is an act of negligence by the doctor or healthcare provider. If you are misdiagnosed, you ought to hold someone accountable and get compensated for the harm suffered.
Causes of diagnostic errors
In most cases, a misdiagnosis boils down to human error. The doctor may have been careless, inexperienced or overconfident. They could order the wrong tests or misread lab results leading to mistakes.
Similarly, something is bound to go wrong if a doctor is fatigued or when they don’t take time with their patients.
Getting justice after a misdiagnosis
For a successful misdiagnosis claim, it must be established that the doctor was negligent when discharging their duties. However, showing fault by a doctor is not so straightforward. Would another equally qualified doctor have made a similar error? Did the doctor treat you with reasonable care and skill? All these factors can point to negligence by your doctor.
Your health is your biggest asset, and you should not let a negligent doctor get away with poor care. A misdiagnosis can result in serious life-changing conditions or even death. If you or a loved one are a victim of such medical negligence, you need to be aware of the steps to take and your legal options in holding the negligent doctor liable.
It is crucial to understand how such claims work and what you should do to protect your rights before filing a medical malpractice claim against the doctor. These types of claims are among the most complex, and it may be in your best interests to get legal assistance.
