Injury Resulting from Misdiagnosis
Orlando Medical Malpractice Attorney
When a patient visits a physician or hospital with symptoms of an illness, they should expect to receive a timely and accurate assessment of their condition. Indeed, doctors are specially trained to identify a wide range of illnesses by ordering laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging studies, asking the patient questions, and conducting a physical exam to arrive at a correct diagnosis by ruling out other possible conditions. Unfortunately, sometimes doctors err and incorrectly diagnose a condition, causing a delay in needed care that could cause serious harm or even death to the patient.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a medical misdiagnosis, you may have grounds for legal action. Get in touch with an Orlando medical malpractice lawyer at Todd Miner Law®️ for a free assessment of your potential case and guidance on how best to proceed.
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The Consequences of Incorrect & Delayed Diagnoses
A medical misdiagnosis can have a devastating effect on a patient. For example, if a patient presents with symptoms indicating appendicitis, but the doctor fails to order imaging studies, he or she may diagnose the condition as some other abdominal ailment and send the patient home. Appendicitis requires prompt care. Without timely care, this condition could worsen to the point that the appendix ruptures causing the patient to undergo expensive and painful long-term care.
Similarly, a doctor that diagnoses a condition too late because of an error might be held responsible for the injury that their actions (or inactions) caused to the patient. Sadly, this is often the case with a delayed cancer diagnoses. A late diagnosis made after the disease has already had a chance to spread may make the cancer most difficult or impossible to treat.
Proving Medical Malpractice
The following elements must be established in order to prove medical malpractice based on a misdiagnosis:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed
- The doctor failed to provide treatment in a reasonably competent matter (negligence)
- The doctor’s negligence caused the patient to suffer injuries
Not all medical errors constitute medical malpractice. To determine whether you have a case, you should consult with an experienced attorney who has handled similar cases in the past.
Contact Us Today
When a doctor’s mistake leads to incorrect treatment, delayed treatment, or no treatment at all, the injured party should speak with a lawyer about pursuing compensation. If you suspect that you are a victim of medical negligence, do not delay in reaching out to our team. Because there is a statute of limitations that applies to medical malpractice cases, you must take immediate action to avoid losing your right to pursue compensation for your losses.
Schedule your free case evaluation today.
