Misdiagnosis

When you go to see a medical professional for treatment, you have a right to expect that the medical professional will use the degree of skill and care expected from a member of the profession. Unfortunately, this does not always occur, and each year thousands of people suffer needlessly because of the negligence of medical professionals.

Misdiagnosis is the most common type of medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis claims encompass a doctor’s:

• failure to identify a condition
• delay in identifying a condition, or
• diagnosis of a patient with the wrong condition

When this occurs, it often results in a person living with a condition that could have been resolved through appropriate treatment. Generally speaking, this type of situation results in compensable losses.

There are a wide variety of conditions that could be misdiagnosed. Some of the more common include the following:

• Any type of cancer
• Fractures
• Infection
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Heart conditions such as aortic dissection and clogged arteries

Similarly, there are a number of specific mistakes that medical professionals can make that could lead to a misdiagnosis, including:

• Failure to properly recognize or interpret symptoms mentioned by the patient
• Failure to perform routine tests at the proper time. This includes cervical and prostate exams as well as mammograms
• Failure to identify cancer cells that were visible during an exam or on test results
• Failure to perform biopsies when needed
• Failure to properly read test results and recognize tumors
• Failure to respond to test results in a timely way with the required treatment
• Failure to refer to a specialist

Misdiagnosis complications are extremely dangerous. They include:

• Being prescribed the wrong drugs
• Undergoing unnecessary treatments
• Undergoing a treatment that worsens a patient’s actual condition

Most importantly, the actual medical condition that a patient suffers from is likely going untreated. In serious illnesses, such as cancer, this can be deadly.

Sometimes undergoing the unnecessary treatments can be damaging. A patient might be needlessly exposed to radiation or chemotherapy or can be left with scars. There is also a risk of complications that is undertaken by the patient for no reason.

Many misdiagnosis victims feel as though they are injured twice over: once having to undergo unnecessary treatments and again when their actual condition is not addressed.

• Your ailments do not improve, despite treatment
• Your symptoms do not match the diagnosis
• Your diagnosis was made on limited information such as one lab test
• Your diagnosed condition usually requires testing that you have not received

If you believe you have been injured by a misdiagnosis, you should speak to an attorney immediately. In many misdiagnosis cases, we retain medical experts who will be able to give you answers. In Missouri and Illinois, the statute of limitations to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years in most cases. It is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible to allow for the most thorough review of your case.

The attorneys of Kilo Flynn have worked on medical malpractice cases throughout Missouri and Illinois. Our clients reside in the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford, and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe. To schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis misdiagnosis attorney, call our office today at 314-647-8910.