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Legal protections for victims of a missed diagnosis

by | Jun 14, 2018 | Uncategorized

A missed diagnosis can be devastating for victims and their families. When a patient entrusts their medical care to their doctor or other healthcare professional, it is important they are familiar with their options if their trust was violated and a diagnosis was missed. Medical malpractice claims serve to protect victims in these situations.

An erroneous diagnosis can occur in a variety of ways including a failure to diagnose; a delayed diagnosis, or diagnosis that was not promptly made; or an incorrect or erroneous diagnosis. In circumstances when a failure to diagnose results in disease progression beyond what would have been expected had the disease been promptly and accurately diagnosed, victims may have options to recover compensation for the damages suffered as a result.

In some circumstances, a failure to diagnose can lead to disease progression that can be fatal. In others, it may lead to the actual medical condition the patient suffers from not be diagnosed and treated. Still in others, the erroneous diagnosis may lead to the treatment of a medical condition the patient is not suffering from and may cause harm such as when a patient receives the wrong medication as a result. It is important for doctors and other medical care professionals to pay attention to the patient’s symptoms and adhere to what is referred to as the doctor’s standard of care.

If a victim has been harmed by a missed diagnosis, and the standard of care has been violated, it is important for them to be familiar with their legal rights and options. Victims should not forget that important protections are available to victims of medical malpractice and their families.

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