Wrongful Diagnosis – Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose Medical Conditions
When not diagnosed promptly, many health conditions can result in serious, even life-threatening problems. Although most medical personnel are trained professionals who maintain high standards of care, medical negligence sometimes occurs during diagnosis.
Physicians are responsible for properly administering tests, seeking consultations with other doctors, and undertaking examinations to determine which medical condition is most likely causing your symptoms. When these standards are not met and patients suffer as a result, our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based firm can file a claim based on misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose the condition. The lawyers from our firm can help you pursue the financial restitution you deserve. With years of successful litigation behind us, we are experts at obtaining compensation for clients in the event of medical malpractice.
Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose
Misdiagnosis occurs when a physician diagnoses the wrong illness during a patient examination. This sometimes leads doctors to administer treatment that is inappropriate or detrimental to the patient’s health, or to determine that no treatment is required. Imagine undergoing costly and painful chemotherapy only to discover it was unnecessary and inappropriate for your actual condition. Or suppose you really were suffering from cancer but were wrongfully diagnosed with a less serious condition. Valuable time would be wasted on ineffective treatment while your already serious condition became worse.
In addition to diagnosing the wrong condition, doctors and medical staff sometimes fail to detect a medical condition altogether. Numerous cases involving the failure to diagnose an illness have shown lawyers at our firm how devastating a missed diagnosis can be – financially, physically, and emotionally. Since lost time can mean the difference between confronting a highly treatable condition or a life-threatening disease, timely diagnoses are a crucial part of effective care.
Contact our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based firm if either misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose has caused your injuries. Our lawyers can help you understand your legal options.
Commonly Misdiagnosed or Undiagnosed Conditions
Many serious conditions are misdiagnosed, including various forms of cancer (e.g., breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancer) and heart attacks. Occasionally, dermatological conditions such as melanoma go undiagnosed until the situation becomes dangerous. More frequently, heart attacks and certain types of cancer are overlooked or mistaken for other illnesses during patient examinations. Below are some of the more common conditions involving misdiagnosis.
Contact Our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Failure to Diagnose / Misdiagnosis Lawyers
When you are ill and physically and emotionally vulnerable, it’s natural for you to put your trust in the skill and experience of your physicians. When this trust is violated and your health is jeopardized, it’s important to remember that the law protects you. Our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based firm has experience in cases involving failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis, and our lawyers can help you obtain compensation for any injuries caused by such negligence. Contact our medical malpractice lawyers to learn more.