Despite the technological advancements in the field of medicine, doctors do not always get everything right. Too often, patients are misdiagnosed, and it doesn’t end well in some cases. Think about taking medication for an ailment you do not have while the actual disease continues to ravage you.
It is a situation millions of Americans find themselves in every year. Unfortunately, most of these cases do not see the light of day since some patients are not even aware they are victims.
What can lead to a misdiagnosis?
Several reasons are behind the numerous misdiagnosis cases among patients in the country. The most common ones include:
- Doctor’s carelessness, fatigue or inexperience
- Fatigue among healthcare providers
- Lack of follow up
- Mixing up patient files or diagnostic results, among others
All the reasons above have an element of negligence, and as a victim, you need to get justice for any wrong diagnosis.
Can you protect yourself from a misdiagnosis?
It is almost impossible to protect yourself from an initial misdiagnosis. After all, doctors should treat their patients with reasonable care according to professional standards. However, seeking a second or third opinion might help you catch a misdiagnosis early enough.
What do you need to do after a misdiagnosis?
You can take legal action against a negligent doctor or healthcare provider and recover any physical or financial damages caused by the malpractice. For instance, if you had to seek alternative treatment or your condition worsened because of the wrong diagnosis, you can file a medical malpractice suit against the responsible doctor.
Navigating a medical malpractice claim is different from other personal injury cases. Things may get complicated along the way, which explains why you need to prepare yourself well before initiating any action against the negligent party.