There are many medical conditions that cause similar symptoms. People rely on physicians to assess their experiences, run appropriate tests and determine the underlying cause of a medical condition.
The diagnostic process can be relatively quick in cases where a simple test allows for an affirmative diagnosis. Other times, doctors must exclude possible causes one at a time before reaching a diagnosis. Unfortunately, the diagnostic process fails regularly, which results in thousands of deaths every year.
Understanding the two main types of diagnostic errors can help patients or their surviving family members take appropriate action.
Misdiagnosis
Despite having access to imaging equipment and various types of tests, medical professionals sometimes make assumptions about a patient’s diagnosis without ruling out specific conditions or affirming the presence of specific diagnostic criteria. They may diagnose the patient with another condition, which not only delays treatment for their actual medical issue but also exposes them to unnecessary treatments.
Failure to diagnose
Perhaps the patient claims to have had certain symptoms that are not present during a medical examination. Maybe a physician doesn’t trust their claims of unusual or painful symptoms due to personal bias.
A failure to diagnose occurs when medical professionals either do not believe a medical condition exists or are completely unable to determine what causes a patient’s symptom. Failure to diagnose can leave people without treatment and can also leave them too frustrated to continue pursuing medical treatment.
Diagnostic errors often lead to treatment delays, a patient withdrawing from medical supervision or unnecessary treatment that does not help. Those impacted by a diagnostic error may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Obtaining medical records to review with a lawyer can help patients determine if a doctor’s mistake is actionable.