When patients are sick or injured - the first step on the road to recovery is to obtain the proper diagnosis. While doctors don't have all the answers – we rely on them to perform the correct tests, identify certain symptoms and do what it takes to treat our condition. The failure to order the appropriate tests – such as an MRI or biopsy – may mean the failure to timely diagnose a condition, such as cancer. The delay or failure to diagnose such illness can have very serious, potentially deadly consequences.
If you believe you or a loved one has suffered harm as the result of a failed or missed diagnosis we urge you to consult with an experience San Diego medical malpractice attorney at once. A knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer who has experience with the legal implications of failed or misdiagnosis, and your rights as a patient to compensation for your harm, can help evaluate your case and determine your next steps.
Several different factors may be involved in a claim for medical malpractice based on the failure to diagnose. For example – did your doctor properly evaluate your symptoms? Sometimes health care professionals may fail to listen closely or notate a patient's concerns, and as a result, miss critical signs pointing to a particular illness. Other times miscommunications between different health care professionals may lead to the failure to order the appropriate tests, or the failure to follow through with obtaining results and communicated these results to patients.
In fact, communication errors are often cited as a top reason for preventable medical errors, including missed and delay diagnoses.
For more information, or if you believe you or a loved one has been harmed as the result of a diagnostic error, please contact the top San Diego medical malpractice lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate and confidential consultation.