Misdiagnosis Attorney Cleveland

When you go to the hospital or visit a doctor, you should be confident that your doctor will accurately diagnose your ailment and provide you with the appropriate treatment plan. However, statistics show doctors get it wrong far too often.

Misdiagnosis is dangerous and can be fatal. Failure to receive a correct diagnosis not only leads to improper treatment, but it also prevents you from getting the treatment you may need to survive. If your symptoms worsen, or treatment is not working, do not hesitate to get a second opinion.

If you have a medical malpractice claim because of a wrong diagnosis or a delayed diagnosis, you need to call me. I am an experienced medical malpractice lawyer, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®

Reasons For A Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

There are various reasons why an individual may file a medical malpractice misdiagnosis lawsuit. Some of the most common reasons are:

Delayed treatment

If your doctor fails to diagnose a condition promptly, it can lead to a delay in treatment. This setback can result in further injury or harm.

Misdiagnosis leading to wrong treatment

If the doctor diagnoses the wrong condition and proceeds with treatment based on that misdiagnosis, it can cause further complications to the patient. There is a possibility of administering medication for the wrong condition, or even performing unnecessary surgery.

Failure to diagnose a serious condition

Even a competent doctor can fail to diagnose a serious condition, such as cancer or heart disease. This type of medical negligence can be catastrophic because time is critically important for successful treatment.

Lack of informed consent

The doctor/patient relationship is built around trust. If a medical professional fails to inform the patient of the risks associated with a particular diagnosis or treatment, it can result in serious harm to the patient.

Negligence

If a medical professional fails to provide a standard level of care, such as ordering appropriate tests or consulting with specialists, it can lead to the wrong diagnosis. Doctors are expected to exhibit the proper duty of care for every patient.

The most common types of misdiagnosis include:

Medical misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional incorrectly identifies a condition or disease. Inaccurate diagnosis can lead to significant harm, including delays in treatment, unnecessary procedures, and even death.

These circumstances can result in a medical malpractice case. Medical malpractice lawsuits work to ensure doctors treat all patients with the necessary level of care. Here are the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions and the problems that can arise from each misdiagnosis:

Infections

Diagnostic errors of infections can lead to serious health issues. By impeding treatment, or performing unnecessary procedures, the end result can be dire. Infectious diseases are caused by harmful agents (pathogens) such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites that get into the body. Problems that can arise from misdiagnosing infections include:

Delay in treatment: Misdiagnosis of infections can lead to a delay in treatment, allowing the infection to worsen over time. Delayed treatment can lead to serious health consequences, including organ damage, sepsis, and in the worst circumstances, death. A misdiagnosed bacterial infection may lead to the improper use of antibiotics. This can contribute to antibiotic resistance, and make the infection more difficult to treat when properly diagnosed.

Unnecessary procedures: Infections need to be treated, and if distinguished incorrectly, can lead to unnecessary procedures, such as biopsies or surgeries. These procedures can be invasive, costly, and can cause unnecessary stress for the patient.

Transmission: If left untreated, infections can potentially lead to the spread of the disease to others, especially for those with compromised immune systems. If a patient is misdiagnosed with a less contagious condition, physicians and staff may not take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the infection.

Vascular Events

Misdiagnosis of vascular events can lead to worsening health conditions because of waiting for treatment or undergoing unnecessary procedures. Vascular events refer to conditions that affect the blood vessels, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and aneurysms. Problems that can arise from misdiagnosing vascular events include:

Delay in treatment: If the doctor does not determine the correct vascular issue the condition may worsen over time. If not treated promptly, serious health consequences can arise, including tissue damage, amputation, and even death.

A misinterpretation of deep vein thrombosis may lead to unsuccessful treatment, which can cause the blood clot to dislodge and travel to the lungs. This could lead to a potentially fatal condition known as a pulmonary embolism.

Incorrect procedures: Misidentified vascular problems can also lead to unnecessary procedures, such as surgeries or angioplasties. These procedures can be invasive, costly, and can cause unnecessary stress for the patient.

Inappropriate medications: A false diagnosis of a patients vascular problems can lead to incorrect medication regimens, and can potentially cause adverse drug reactions or worsen the underlying condition.

If an aneurysm is not properly diagnosed, it may lead to the use of antiplatelet drugs, which can increase the risk of bleeding and hemorrhage.

Cancers

Delayed cancer diagnosis can have serious consequences. Unnecessary treatments may have their own risks and side effects. The cancer could get worse and spread over time. Anyone who is suffering from this serious disease relies on their doctor to get it right. Their life may depend on it!

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers, with nearly 38% of all cancer-related medical malpractice claims due to lung cancer misdiagnoses.

Misdiagnosis of other types of cancer can also occur, with potentially negative outcomes. Overdiagnosis, which is the diagnosis of a disease that would not have caused harm during a person’s lifetime, is another issue that can arise from false cancer determination. Unnecessary treatment and procedures can be very harmful to the patient.

It is important to speak openly and freely with all doctors, keep copies of medical records, and seek a second opinion if necessary to ensure an accurate cancer diagnosis. Dealing with a cancer misdiagnosis can be disastrous. If you need a medical malpractice attorney, call me today, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®

Heart Attack

Heart attacks can have serious consequences and improper treatment can have potentially fatal outcomes. Heart attacks occur when an artery that supplies blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked, often due to the buildup of fatty deposits known as plaques. Misdiagnosis of a heart attack may result in administering medication that is ineffective, or possibly failing to perform a necessary procedure such as cardiac catheterization.

Sometimes, heart attacks can be confused with other conditions that share similar symptoms, such as heart failure. It is important for healthcare providers to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors for heart attacks, and to perform a thorough evaluation. Appropriate testing to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely treatment is of critical importance.

I have more than 40 years of experience with medical malpractice cases. Call me day or night, free of charge, to talk to me about your medical misdiagnosis claim.

Venous Thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be a life-threatening condition if not diagnosed and promptly treated. Inappropriate treatment can result in serious complications, including a fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). Additionally, unnecessary anticoagulation can cause avoidable bleeding, which can lead to further complications.

It is important to adopt a structured approach to VTE diagnosis that includes clinical prediction rules, D-dimer testing, and non-invasive imaging modalities to enable rapid, cost-effective, and accurate VTE diagnosis. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize the symptoms of VTE and seek medical attention promptly.

The most common causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of VTE, are damage to a vein from surgery, inflammation, infection, or injury. Certain factors such as age, cancer, surgery, and blood clotting disorders can increase the risk of developing DVT.

Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

If left untreated, an aortic aneurysm can grow and eventually rupture, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. Similarly, an aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer of the aortic wall tears, allowing blood to flow between the layers and potentially causing the aorta to rupture.

Misdiagnosis can worsen the condition and reduce the chance of survival. In the case of Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue and increases the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection, prophylactic surgery is often recommended to prevent dissection and improve survival.

Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management.

Clogged arteries

Misdiagnosis of clogged arteries can lead to heart attack, stroke, and even death. Clogged arteries, also known as arterial stenosis or atherosclerosis, occur when fatty deposits build up in the walls of the arteries, making it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries.

Misdiagnosis can occur because the symptoms of clogged arteries can be similar to those of other conditions, such as heartburn or indigestion. For example, chest pain is a common symptom of clogged arteries, but it can also be a symptom of other conditions like acid reflux or angina. If a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart occurs, it can lead to a heart attack. Similarly, if a clogged artery supplying blood to the brain is left untreated, it can lead to a stroke.

Diagnostic Errors In The United States

Medical misdiagnosis is a significant problem in the United States. One study estimates that as many as 12 million people are affected by medical diagnostic errors each year, and an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 people die annually from complications related to these misdiagnoses. In fact, medical errors in general are estimated to be the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease and cancer.

Misdiagnosis in emergency rooms has been particularly problematic, with as many as 250,000 people dying every year because they are misdiagnosed in these settings. It should be noted that these statistics are estimates and may not reflect the full scope of the problem, as not all misdiagnoses may be reported or detected.

Diagnostic errors are clearly a huge issue in the medical community, and Cleveland hospitals are no exception. As part of the community, like you, I rely on competent doctors to use proper procedures and diagnostic practices. When they don’t, and we suffer from their negligence, they need to be held accountable. If you’ve experienced a failure to diagnose properly, and have a medical malpractice case, call me right away, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®

Filing A Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

It isn’t easy to recognize when misdiagnosis occurs, and that is what makes it so dangerous. The longer a person goes untreated because of an incorrect diagnosis , the worse the potential consequences.

It is important to look for the following warning signs to determine whether you or a loved one may have been misdiagnosed:

• Unimproved or worsening condition after treatment

• Diagnosis not in line with symptoms

• Lack of medical testing

• Uncommon symptoms attributed to common problem

If you believe your doctor may have made a misdiagnosis, it is important for you to seek a second opinion. In fact, in order to file a claim for medical malpractice, Ohio law requires you to have the sworn statement of another doctor who is willing to testify that a mistake was made. In this specific instance, the doctor must admit that the original doctor misdiagnosed the patient, and that the patient suffered damage as the result of the misdiagnosis.

If you or someone you love was misdiagnosed , you have to call me now for a FREE consultation. I will help you understand your rights. As your Medical Malpractice Lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®