Wrong Diagnosis
Wrong Diagnosis – The Harsh Consequences
While medical practitioners are under immense pressure when they go about their daily tasks, they can’t allow the pressure to get to them as they might make mistakes – some of them fatal. A wrong diagnosis in a patient can lead to discomfort and suffering or in the worst case scenario, the death of the patient.
Because this is one of the most difficult aspects of a doctor’s job, further testing should be done if a doctor has doubt regarding a diagnosis.
Failure to diagnose an underlying condition may lead to medical malpractice, if the diagnosed disease causes damage, financial loss, or even death. Some common cases where a wrong diagnosis may lead to medical malpractice include:
- Chest pain – may be a heart attack
- Abdominal pain – may me appendicitis
- Coughing – may be lung cancer or even mesothelioma
- Breast lump – could be breast cancer
- Rectal bleeding – could be colorectal cancer
The consequences of a wrong diagnosis:
- The condition that the patient actually has will go untreated, meaning that the condition may worsen.
- The patient may have a negative reaction to the treatment he receives, because it is the incorrect treatment. This is usually the case with more invasive procedures.
In some cases, patients suffer both a worsening of their existing conditions and negative side effects from unneeded treatments. Suffering even one of these consequences of a wrong diagnosis is unacceptable.
When a patient suffers because a doctor fails to correctly diagnose his condition, the patient may be entitled to filing a claim for his injuries as wrong diagnosis is a form of medical malpractice. The patient may claim for compensation if he/she suffered damages.
If you would like professional legal advice or speak to one of our experienced lawyers regarding a wrong diagnosis, feel free to contact us.
For more information on this subject, please give us a call at 012 460 3668 (SA) or e-mail us at clare@avdw.co.za
