Misdiagnosis Claims Rise As Other Medical Malpractice Claims Fall

From 2013 to 2017, errors related to diagnosis were the largest source of medical malpractice claims in the United States. One of the most important things a doctor does it evaluate a patient, make a diagnosis, and then begin treatment.

Unfortunately, there are many factors that go into why a misdiagnosis is made and many of them revolve around errors on the part of healthcare providers. A misdiagnosis can lead to delayed treatment or possibly a patient receiving no treatment at all. If you need a Philadelphia failure to diagnose attorney, contact The Weitz Firm, LLC today so we can get to work on securing the compensation you need.

What Happens In These Cases?

Studies completed by malpractice services providers reviewed 10,18 cases of medical malpractice claims from 2013 to 2017. They found that:

• 36% of all claims involved the death of a patient.
• 36% of all claims occurred in outpatient settings.

The study points out that there are several times in the diagnostic process in which mistakes can be made:

• 33% of malpractice lawsuits occur when the doctor failed to appropriately evaluate the patient. This includes not obtaining an appropriate family medical history.
• 52% of the claims involve errors that occur in lab testing, with either the wrong test being chosen, the test being performed improperly, or the results being misinterpreted.

When you walk into the emergency room, you usually find a busy environment. Many doctors and nurses are overworked, particularly in the emergency department setting where proper diagnosis can be the difference between life and death in a short period of time.

When a patient is misdiagnosed, a few things happen:

• They are treated for an illness or injury they do not have, delaying treatment of the real illness of injury.
• They do not receive treatment at all and are sent home. This can lead to delayed treatment or even death.

In the United States, medical mistakes are now the third leading cause of death according to Johns Hopkins researchers. Estimates say that an average of 250,000 people dies each year due to medical mistakes, but some put that number closer to 440,000. Please note, that those are only the fatalities. Many millions more each year survive medical mistakes and are left dealing with the consequences (disabilities, pain and suffering, major medical bills).

It is absolutely vital that victims of misdiagnosis get to the bottom of what happened to them.

What You Can Do Now

If you or a loved one have experienced medical complications due to being misdiagnosed, please seek legal assistance to explore your options. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our knowledgeable and experienced team will investigate your case and work to form the best path forward. We want to ensure you are compensated for:

• Your medical expenses related to the misdiagnosis
• Loss of income if you cannot work
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Punitive damages

When you need a Philadelphia failure to diagnose attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.