New York Appendicitis Malpractice Attorneys

Suing for Appendicitis Misdiagnosis or Substandard Treatment

Appendicitis is a serious condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed. Without immediate medical attention, including surgical removal of the appendix, appendicitis can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, doctors do not always accurately diagnose and treat appendicitis.

In fact, some studies show that as many as 30% of patients with appendicitis do not receive an appendicitis diagnosis and are subsequently discharged without treatment. If you or your loved one did not receive a proper appendicitis diagnosis and/or treatment, resulting in injuries or the death of your loved one, you could be entitled to sue the negligent medical professional or facility and seek compensation for your losses.

At Simonson Goodman Platzer PC, we have a proven record of success in 98% of the cases we have handled, including complex medical malpractice claims. Our New York appendicitis malpractice attorneys are here to answer your questions and guide you through the legal process.

On This Page

• Signs & Symptoms of Appendicitis
• How Is Appendicitis Misdiagnosed?
• What to Do If You or a Loved One Is the Victim of Appendicitis Malpractice

Give us a call at (800) 817-5029 or submit a free online case evaluation form to schedule an appointment with our New York appendicitis malpractice lawyers.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Appendicitis?

Appendicitis typically presents several key symptoms, although atypical presentation is not uncommon. If you or a loved one exhibits any signs of appendicitis, seek medical help right away.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Sudden, unexplained pain in the lower right abdomen
• Pain that moves from the navel to the lower right abdomen
• Nausea, with or without vomiting
• Pain that worsens with movement, including walking or coughing
• Bloating of the abdominal area
• Constipation or diarrhea and flatulence
• Decreased or lost appetite
• Fever

Women who are pregnant may experience pain in the upper abdomen due to shifts in the location of the appendix during pregnancy.

How Is Appendicitis Misdiagnosed?

Without immediate surgery, appendicitis may progress to perforation of the appendix. In other words, the risk of perforation increases as time elapses from the onset of disease to treatment.

An appendectomy delayed for more than 12 hours is associated with a significant increase in the rate of perforations, and resultant abscesses and peritonitis, thus appendectomy should be performed urgently, irrespective of the time of day. Medical professionals are trained to recognize the signs of appendicitis and administer tests in order to achieve a fast and proper diagnosis.

However, although appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies seen in U.S. emergency rooms, the rate of appendicitis misdiagnosis remains alarmingly high. Some studies have reported that appendicitis is not diagnosed in adult patients who have the condition at a rate of 5.9% to 23.5%. How does this happen?

In fact, there are many factors that commonly lead to misdiagnosis of appendicitis in emergency rooms in the U.S. Some of these include:

• Symptoms of appendicitis are relatively common and can point to a number of conditions/illnesses. Sometimes, doctors may mistakenly diagnose a patient with a less-severe condition, such as constipation.
• Medical professionals may fail to conduct proper testing. Studies have shown that patients who only received abdominal x-rays had a higher risk of not having their appendicitis properly diagnosed by the treating physician.
• The existence of pre-existing conditions can cause doctors to misdiagnose appendicitis, mistaking symptoms of appendicitis as symptoms of the pre-existing condition. In fact, patients with certain pre-existing conditions may be at a higher risk of misdiagnosis.
• Medical professionals often fail to provider proper follow-up care. A patient may be discharged without an appendicitis diagnosis but that does not mean symptoms will cease. A doctor’s lack of follow-up care can have devastating effects.

Although many people think of appendicitis as a relatively routine condition, mistakenly believing it to be easy to diagnose and treat, this is simply not the case.

While medical providers, particularly those who work in emergency departments, are not expected to be perfect in diagnosing and treating serious conditions like appendicitis, there is also no excuse for substandard care. Failing to take a patient’s symptoms seriously or failing to order proper diagnostic tests is negligence.

What to Do If You or a Loved One Is the Victim of Appendicitis Malpractice

If you believe that you or your loved one did not receive proper care and that this subsequently led to serious injuries, complications, or even the death of your loved one, it’s important that you understand your rights. You could have grounds for an appendicitis malpractice claim.

After first ensuring that you (or your loved one) receive competent medical attention, turn to the New York appendicitis misdiagnosis lawyers at Simonson Goodman Platzer PC. Our partners have more than 100 years of combined experience in complex, highly nuanced medical malpractice claims.

Put 40+ Years of Experience on Your Side With Simonson Goodman Platzer PC

We know what it takes to investigate these types of claims and how to build a strong case on your behalf. Our team often works with medical experts in order to obtain testimony regarding the standard of care and whether or not this standard was breached. We are always available to take your call and answer any questions you may have.

Have you suffered due to misdiagnosis of appendicitis? Contact our award-winning team today at (800) 817-5029 to request a free initial consultation.