Doctors spend years learning to identify and treat virtually every ailment on Earth, but you might wonder what happens when they make a mistake. In some cases—like when a doctor mistakes a case of gastroenteritis for the flu—a misdiagnosis might have minimal impacts beyond inconvenience and discomfort.

In other cases, however, misdiagnoses can have tragic consequences, and in the United States, missed or incorrect diagnoses are a bigger problem than you may realize.

What is a medical misdiagnosis?

A medical misdiagnosis occurs when a physician or other healthcare professional incorrectly interprets an illness or disease, diagnoses it late, or misses it altogether. In some cases, a misdiagnosis is a form of malpractice.

For example, a patient may walk into an urgent care facility complaining of dizziness and severe nausea. The patient doesn’t know that what they have is pneumonia, but because their dizziness and nausea are symptoms that can be associated with many other health conditions, the doctor on duty may misdiagnose the patient.

What can happen following a misdiagnosis?

It’s impossible to know exactly how many people receive misdiagnoses each year, and if a doctor misdiagnoses a minor health condition, both them and the patient may never know the diagnosis was incorrect at all.

However, if a doctor overlooks or misdiagnoses a severe health condition, the results can be catastrophic. A new study published in the British Medical Journal has found that approximately 371,000 people die as a result of medical misdiagnosis each year in the United States. About 424,000 suffer a permanent disability. In total, that is roughly 800,000 people who suffer serious harm as a result of medical misdiagnosis each year.

That harm devastates individuals and their families, of course, but it also has a massive economic burden. A missed or delayed diagnosis of a severe health condition like a stroke can add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a patient’s care. When you consider just how many people die or suffer a permanent disability from a misdiagnosis, the magnitude of such costs becomes clear.

What causes a medical misdiagnosis?

Identifying what causes medical misdiagnoses, sometimes referred to as diagnostic errors, can be a step towards reducing their rates in the U.S. healthcare system. Some common causes of medical misdiagnoses are:

1. Miscommunication communication: lack of clear communication (such as a patient incorrectly recalling symptoms or a doctor failing to understand) can lead to misdiagnosis.
2. Inexperience or overconfidence by healthcare providers: healthcare providers without sufficient training in a particular area may misdiagnose a medical concern. This doesn’t just happen with new healthcare providers; even those with years of experience can come across situations they are not appropriately trained to handle. Similarly, they may overestimate their knowledge and overlook or disregard symptoms.
3. Faulty equipment: while healthcare equipment has become incredibly advanced, it requires skilled healthcare providers to yield the necessary information or results. Additionally, when equipment does not function as intended, it can provide incorrect information, leading to misdiagnosis.
4. Fragmentation of care: Healthcare can be complex, and patients often see several healthcare providers. But when care is spread out across numerous professionals, essential information may not get communicated.

Steps to take if you feel you’ve received a medical misdiagnosis

Feeling concerned about your diagnosis can be frightening and overwhelming. However, it’s important to advocate for yourself. By taking a proactive approach, you can pursue correct medical care and fight for any compensation you may be owed for pain and suffering.

If you feel you’ve received an incorrect diagnosis, take the following steps:

1. Gather all your medical records
2. Request a second opinion or consult a specialist
3. Follow up on testing options
4. Consider seeing legal advice

Have you been misdiagnosed?

Medical misdiagnoses are one of most common forms of medical malpractice leading to death or disability. If you or a loved one suffered the fallout of a missed or incorrect diagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation.

No amount of money can undo the harms you’ve suffered, of course, but it can help you maintain financial security while you’re undergoing treatment, grieving the loss of a loved one, or adjusting to life with a significant disability. At Stark & Stark, our experienced attorneys are ready to fight for you. Reach out to us for a consultation today.

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