Inadequate diagnoses occur when a doctor makes the wrong diagnosis of a patient's medical condition or makes the correct diagnosis after an unacceptable delay.
Inadequate diagnoses occur when a doctor makes the wrong diagnosis of a patient’s medical condition or makes the correct diagnosis after an unacceptable delay. Either way, the patient does not receive a timely and accurate diagnosis, which may make his or her illness more difficult to treat. A doctor who makes an inadequate diagnosis may be liable for medical malpractice.
Wrongful Diagnosis vs. Delayed Diagnosis
The two main types of inadequate diagnoses are misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis. Both are significant medical errors that can harm patients.
Misdiagnosis or Incorrect Diagnosis
In a misdiagnosis or incorrect diagnosis, the doctor diagnoses the patient with the incorrect condition or fails to make a timely diagnosis. For instance, a patient visits his or her doctor with chest pain. After the doctor performs a few tests, he or she assures the patient it is a minor issue—acid reflux or indigestion.
The patient, relieved, returns home and ignores any further pain. A few days later, the patient is climbing a flight of stairs when his or her chest tightens up. The patient collapses, then awakens in the hospital to learn he or she had a heart attack.
In this situation, the doctor made a wrongful diagnosis, which led to the patient suffering a heart attack that he or she may have been able to avoid with a correct diagnosis and early intervention.
Delayed Diagnosis
In a delayed diagnosis, the doctor makes the correct diagnosis, but only after an unacceptable delay. The challenge in holding a doctor liable for medical malpractice for a delayed diagnosis is proving the doctor had enough information to have made the correct diagnosis earlier.
Inadequate Diagnoses and Medical Malpractice
To hold a doctor liable for medical malpractice based on an inadequate diagnosis, the plaintiff must demonstrate three things:
- By making an inadequate diagnosis, the doctor failed to follow the standard of care.
- The doctor’s failure caused the patient to suffer injuries.
- The patient incurred damages because of his or her injuries.
Free Case Evaluation With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis may be considered malpractice. A medical malpractice attorney from Newsome | Melton can help. For a free case evaluation, call us today at 888-526-8947.
Inadequate Diagnoses - Frequently Asked Questions
If My Condition Got Worse Due to My Doctor Failing to Refer Me to a Specialist, Do I Have a Malpractice Case? If you have a health condition that has worsened over time because your doctor failed to refer you to a specialist, you may have a valid medical malpractice case. When problems with a
Read More
If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning, it is imperative you recognize the symptoms and act right away. Severe impairment, confusion, vomiting, and other symptoms may be evident before you lose consciousness, or you may identify them in a friend who has been drinking. If you were binge drinking, drinking
Read MoreInadequate Diagnoses - News Articles
Kira Charlton went into labor on March 2, 2011 and was rushed to the Delaware County Memorial Hospital, located in Drexel Hill, PA. Charlton’s twins were deemed healthy throughout her pregnancy, but her doctors advised a cesarean section. According to a 2013 medical malpractice lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Charlton family, when she arrived
Read More
New York State Settles Medical Malpractice Lawsuit; Agrees to Pay Abdusalamov Family $22 Million Magomed Abdusalamov, formerly a professional boxer from the Republic of Dagestan, was undefeated entering his last fight on November 2, 2013. The match was held in the Theater at Madison Square Garden, located in midtown Manhattan, before thousands of spectators. The
Read More