Misdiagnoses
The only way to properly treat a medical condition is to accurately diagnose the problem. Therefore, a medical professional should take all reasonable steps to confirm his or her diagnosis for a particular patient through such means as seeking second opinions, consulting specialists, getting further medical tests, researching information about the medical condition, or simply following up with a patient to see if the treatment prescribed has helped. Unfortunately, medical misdiagnoses are common in all types of patient care and their consequences can be catastrophic and even fatal for patients.
The types of misdiagnoses range from a totally wrong diagnosis such as identifying a patient's chest pain and nausea as acid reflux when it is really a heart attack, to a partial misdiagnosis such as diagnosing lung cancer when it is really cancer of the lymph nodes. In addition, a misdiagnosis can happen in any medical context such a doctor's office, a laboratory, an operating room, or an emergency room. Because it is critical that a medical professional correctly diagnose a condition, a misdiagnosis can lead to a total lack of treatment, a delay in treatment, or simply ordering the wrong treatment for the condition.
If you suspect that you or your loved on has been injured as a result of a misdiagnosis, contact us online or call Theodoros & Rooth at
