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Is failure to properly diagnose grounds for a malpractice claim?

On Behalf of | Dec 17, 2019 | Medical Malpractice |

When you to go your Virginia doctor, you trust that the medical care you receive will be adequate and up to acceptable standards. It can be devastating to learn that your doctor failed to provide adequate care by misdiagnosing you or failing to properly diagnose your medical condition. In some cases, this could be grounds for a medical malpractice claim against the liable party.

If you suffered because of a delayed diagnosis, it is possible that you may have a valid reason to pursue compensation through a claim. However, it is important to first understand what counts as medical malpractice in order to determine how to move forward. Victims of malpractice, including failure to diagnose, do not have to suffer in silence.

Misdiagnosis can lead to health problems

Doctors do occasionally make mistakes, but this is not always grounds for a civil claim. It is not always easy to know if what you experienced counts as medical malpractice. There are times, however, when a doctor makes a completely preventable mistake due to negligence or recklessness.

When you do not get the proper medical diagnosis, you cannot get the right treatment necessary for your medical condition. The result can be a worsening of your pain, a progression of a disease or other complications. If this happened to you, it is possible that is a reason for you to consider seeking recompense through the civil justice system.

A proper differential diagnosis is crucial

When a patient comes to a doctor with a medical problem, there is an expectation the doctor will perform a differential diagnosis. This is a process of narrowing down possible diagnoses by listing possible answers and determining which one is most likely. This requires listening to the patient, asking questions, running appropriate tests and taking other steps to get to the right answer.

If you believe your doctor rushed through your evaluation, dismissed your concerns or failed to run certain tests that would have led to an appropriate diagnosis, you have options. One of these options includes speaking about your case with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. 

Holding your doctor accountable

As a victim of medical malpractice, you have the right to speak out about a misdiagnosis or other type of negligent medical care. With help, it is possible to hold liable parties accountable for your pain and suffering. While a malpractice claim cannot reverse what happened to you, it can allow you to claim the financial recovery you need to get better and move forward.

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