Has Your Health Care Provider Misdiagnosed Your Illness?
Proper evaluation and diagnosis are the foundation of proper care and treatment for injuries and illnesses. Many injuries and illnesses require immediate attention in order to heal properly; therefore, accurate and timely diagnoses are critical for appropriate treatment. Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnoses and failure to diagnose can lead to a patient’s untimely demise and a wide variety of issues that harm their mental and physical health, finances, and quality of life. It can also negatively impact their loved ones.
Diagnostic errors can result in a complete lack of treatment, improper treatment and unnecessary or harmful medication. All of this can cause further physical and mental damage through worsening conditions and even the onset of new health problems stemming from the original. A proper and timely diagnosis can be the difference between life and death when it comes to:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Artery disease
- Stroke
- Respiratory infections
- Diabetes
- Tuberculosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Infection
Experience matters for filing successful medical malpractice claims. At DeMore Law Firm, PLLC, our lawyers have more than 30 years of combined experience representing victims of diagnostic errors and have helped many victims of diagnostic errors. While we do not guarantee the outcome of your case – no attorney can – we assure you that we are here to champion the fight for your rights and the justice you deserve.
What Are Common Diagnostic Errors?
Diagnosis errors come in the form of wrong diagnoses, missed diagnoses and failure to timely diagnose. Diagnostic errors can be caused by equipment errors, personal errors, miscommunication and more. The most common causes of diagnostic errors include:
- Patients’ medical history issues
- Failure to acquire and carefully review a patient’s full medical history
- Failure to understand the significance of a patient’s full medical history or recognize a health issue
- Improper or a lack of communication between the patient and the doctor
- Doctor not asking proper diagnosis questions
- Misinterpretation of the patient’s explanation
- Doctor’s cognitive error
- Misinterpretation of lab results and/or diagnostic studies such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and bone scans
- Overlooking important evidence of illness or injury
- Ending the diagnostic process prematurely
If you are suffering as a result of any diagnostic errors, the attorneys at DeMore Law Firm, PLLC, are here to assist you in your case and get you the justice that you deserve.
Answers To Your Pressing Diagnostic Error Questions
As medical malpractice attorneys, we address several frequent inquiries from clients in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and across New York below. We provide these brief insights to help clarify your situation.
How do I prove my doctor failed to diagnose my condition?
You must demonstrate that your physician deviated from the accepted standard of care. This requires medical evidence showing that the oversight directly caused harm that otherwise would have been avoided.
Can I sue for misdiagnosis if my condition eventually got better?
Yes, provided the error caused compensable damages like unnecessary pain or increased medical costs. You may still have a valid claim if the mistake led to a more invasive treatment path.
What should I do immediately if I suspect I’ve been misdiagnosed?
Prioritize seeking a second opinion from a different professional to ensure you receive proper care. Additionally, secure your medical records and document how the delay has impacted your health.
Contact Us Soon For A Free Case Evaluation
If you have suffered or are currently suffering from the consequences of a diagnostic error, the legal team at DeMore Law Firm, PLLC, is here to help you pursue the compensation you need. In New York, the statute of limitations for filing diagnosis error claims is 30 months (two and a half years) from the date of negligence, after which you can no longer file a claim for compensation. For a free case evaluation, contact our office in Syracuse at 315-413-7000.