When you go to the doctor’s office, you expect that they’ll explore all their options to discover what’s causing your ailment. Unfortunately, some doctors fail to provide the standard of care their patients need and make an incorrect diagnosis.
These misdiagnoses are not only extremely common but can also be deadly. What makes a misdiagnosis so dangerous? Allow us to explain.
What is a Misdiagnosis?
A misdiagnosis simply means that a doctor diagnosed you with the wrong condition. This may be the result of not having enough tests to get a full understanding of your ailment, misunderstanding your symptoms, or other types of medical negligence.
Misdiagnoses are more common than you may realize. On average, around 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed each year. Not only that, but some studies suggest about 1-in-10 adverse hospital events are caused by a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
What are the Dangers of a Misdiagnosis?
A misdiagnosis usually means two things. First, it means you’re being treated for a condition you don’t have. In some cases, the treatment you receive for that incorrect diagnosis could cause further complications and negatively impact your overall health.
The second problem is that a misdiagnosed condition is not being managed, which can cause it to worsen. If, for example, you had cancer and the doctor treated you for another condition, you could lose valuable time to control the disease, and the cancer could metastasize to other parts of your body.
In general, if you’ve been following your doctor’s advice and your condition gets worse, you may have been misdiagnosed. If you bring these concerns to your doctor and they don’t change your treatment plan, it may be time to contact a medical malpractice attorney.
If you or someone you love suffered severe injuries due to medical negligence, we can help. If you want an experienced New York City personal injury attorney from Simonson Goodman Platzer PC to fight for your recovery, don’t hesitate to send us an email or call (800) 817-5029.