Misdiagnosis & Failure to Diagnose

Correctly diagnosing a disease can mean the difference between life and death. Healthcare providers who fail to diagnose a patient with an illness such as cancer or heart disease or who diagnose a patient with the wrong disease can cause irreparable harm or early death.

There is a standard approach to diagnosing disease which involves information gathering and testing. Possible causes of the symptoms are evaluated and eliminated one-by-one starting with the most serious and most likely until a diagnosis is made. This standard approach is called making a differential diagnosis.

When a healthcare provider fails to follow the appropriate diagnostic process, they may diagnose the wrong disease or fail to diagnose any disease at all. If the undiagnosed disease progresses and the patient suffers undue harm, then the healthcare provider may be liable for medical malpractice.

Among the conditions most commonly misdiagnosed are: appendicitis, bacterial meningitis, breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, pulmonary embolism, stroke, testicular cancer, and tuberculosis.

Victims of misdiagnosis are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, diminished earning capacity, lost income, and other costs and losses.

Lawsuits that hold healthcare providers accountable for misdiagnosis do more that help victims recover their lives— they help keep our communities safe by making sure that the medical care we all receive meets minimal quality standards.

If you’ve been injured because your healthcare provider failed to correctly diagnose your illness, you need an attorney to evaluate your case and protect you and your community from future danger.

Contact Siegfried & Jensen today for a free consultation. We’re here for you.