A misdiagnosis is a very serious form of medical malpractice. A patient who receives a misdiagnosis could receive treatment or medication that they don’t even need. For instance, they may have to go through unnecessary surgery or rounds of chemotherapy. It’s a critical error if the doctor negligently makes mistakes leading to the wrong diagnosis.
But in other cases, the diagnosis is just delayed. The correct diagnosis is eventually made, but it’s not done in the reasonable amount of time that the patient would expect. Is this as serious as a misdiagnosis?
It depends on the medical condition
Depending on the issue the patient is facing, a delayed diagnosis can be very serious. It could even be fatal.
For example, say that someone has an aggressive form of cancer, such as mesothelioma. It usually metastasizes quickly, spreading throughout the body in months or just a few years.
If a patient has mesothelioma but the doctor doesn’t catch the issue, delaying the diagnosis for months, then the patient’s condition could become terminal. The cancer could spread throughout their body so that there are no more treatment options that will save their life. The best medical professionals can do is provide them with comfort and assistance during this process. But if their doctor had gotten the diagnosis right at the beginning, there may have been life-saving treatment options that were available.
Seeking compensation
Have you lost a loved one due to a medical mistake, such as a misdiagnosis or a significantly delayed diagnosis? Take the time to carefully consider all the legal options at your disposal as you seek compensation for medical bills, funeral costs and much more.