When doctors fail to notice the warning signs of a health condition, that missed diagnosis changes a patient’s life. A missed diagnosis can directly lead to a patient’s death or other major health concerns.
Symptoms
- Sudden or unexplained severe pain
- Neurological symptoms (weakness, numbness, slurred speech)
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- Persistent vomiting or abdominal pain
- High fever or dangerously low body temperature
- Confusion, disorientation, or altered mental status
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
- Worsening symptoms after being sent home
- Symptoms dismissed as anxiety, stress, or minor illness
- Rapid deterioration shortly after discharge
What causes a missed diagnosis?
It’s not always known what leads a doctor to miss a diagnosis, but that doesn’t help patients harmed by the error.
Doctors may lock onto a specific injury or illness, ignoring other possible explanations that are the actual problem. Incomplete exams or health records may lead a doctor to miss information that would support a clear diagnosis.
In some cases, the patient’s age or other health issues may mask the real reason why they feel sick or hurt. Symptoms in the elderly, young children, pregnant women, immunocompromised, and more may be recognized as causing something entirely different than what the real risk is. When diagnosing these patients, doctors must take extra care to rule out the causes of each symptom.
Serious injuries caused by a missed diagnosis
A missed diagnosis can have fatal consequences. In less severe cases, the injuries can still change the life of the patient and their family.
Untreated infections or meningitis may cause significant brain injuries or affect hearing. Undiagnosed spinal cord injuries may leave a patient with long-term weakness or paralysis, along with possible bowel and bladder problems.
Missed signs of stroke, cancer, and heart attack can have deadly outcomes. Timely treatment of those serious issues can be the difference between life and death.
Patients simply do not have the privilege of having their health issues overlooked. A missed diagnosis costs patients valuable time needed to treat their illness or injury. A missed diagnosis leaves patients confused, scared, and unsure about what is happening to their bodies.
Contacting the team at Weisser Law is the best way to determine how your diagnosis was missed and what compensation is owed to you and your family. We’ll listen to your story with compassion and understanding. We’ll use your story to fight the insurance companies and hold them accountable for not caring for you correctly.
As always, Weisser Law offers a free, no-pressure consultation to answer your questions and provide a realistic understanding of your options and rights. Call us now to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted, local law experts.