The Three Most Misdiagnosed Medical Conditions

While no one is perfect, we can expect that professionals who have adequate training, education, and experience will use the appropriate amount of care in providing their services. Although this is true for any professional, there are certain occupations where failing to use the proper standard of care can have more far-reaching and life-changing consequences. For instance, failing to order the proper tests, or to carefully review a patient’s history could result in the devastating misdiagnosis of a medical condition. Read on to learn more about the three most commonly misdiagnosed conditions and how wronged patients can seek compensation for their losses.

Vascular Events 

Although any medical condition can be misdiagnosed, researchers have revealed that there are three medical conditions in particular that tend to be wrongly misdiagnosed at a higher rate than others. Many of these conditions fall under the category of vascular events, which make up almost 23 percent of diagnosis mistakes and include things like stroke, aneurysms, and heart attacks. Unfortunately, these kinds of conditions all require prompt and careful treatment, so a failure to diagnose immediately could result in a delay in this treatment that could end up being deadly for the patient.

Infection 

Infections are another commonly misdiagnosed medical condition. Sepsis, in particular, has proven to be misdiagnosed most often, which is frightening, as the outcomes for sepsis patients are so poor. Failing to properly diagnose an infection can result in sepsis, as well as organ shut down and post-sepsis syndrome. In some tragic cases, an undiagnosed and untreated infection can even result in death.

Cancer

 According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), cancer represents almost 40 percent of diagnosis errors. Lung cancer tops the list as the most commonly misdiagnosed form of cancer, with only 16 percent of lung cancer cases being diagnosed in the early stages. Other types of cancers that are commonly misdiagnosed include:

• Breast cancer;
• Colorectal cancer;
• Prostate cancer; and
• Melanoma.

Whether due to a failure to conduct adequate testing, failing to properly evaluate test results, conducting inadequate examinations, or a failure to take a patient’s history, making cancer-related diagnostic errors can have devastating consequences. Doctors that deviate from the standard of care in diagnosing and treating their patients can and should be held liable for their actions.

We Can Help You with Your Efforts at Financial Recovery

 If you or a loved one suffered harm as a result of a misdiagnosed medical condition, you could be entitled to compensation. While it’s true that no amount of financial compensation can make up for this kind of mistake, recovering damages can go a long way towards helping wronged patients obtain the care they need and prevent similar mistakes in the future. For more information about filing a legal claim based on misdiagnosis, please call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 and set up a meeting with one of our dedicated and compassionate Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyers today. You can also reach a member of our legal team via online message.

Sources: 

psnet.ahrq.gov/issue/serious-misdiagnosis-related-harms-malpractice-claims-big-three-vascular-events-infections

clinicalconnection.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/johns-hopkins-medicine-researchers-identify-health-conditions-most-likely-to-cause-serious-harm-when-misdiagnosed