A timely and precise diagnosis of illness or disease is the cornerstone of effective treatment. If a physician makes a mistake or is negligent in diagnosing a life-threatening disease or serious medical condition, it can have disastrous consequences for their patients.
Unfortunately, cases of missed or delayed diagnosis happen far too frequently in the United States. A study of Patient Safety Incidents (PSIs) by HealthGrades found that “Failure to Rescue”, meaning failure to diagnose and treat in time, was the most common cause of a patient safety incident. The same study showed that these types of Diagnostic Errors happened at a rate of 155 per 1,000 hospitalized patients.
Missed or delayed diagnosis errors are often preventable and result from medical mistakes or negligence. Possible causes of missed or delayed diagnosis include:
- Misinterpretation of MRI results, mammograms or x-rays
- Failing to recognize heart attack symptoms
- Unreasonable delay in diagnostic test ordering
- Failing to diagnose bacterial infection or sepsis
- Failing to notice airway obstructions
- Negligence in not recommending a c-section
- Misdiagnosis of stroke symptoms
- Misdiagnosis of spinal injury
- Misdiagnosis of concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury
An accurate diagnosis is the foundation of medicine. With the proper diagnosis, patients benefit from speedy treatment and increased survival rates. When a doctor fails to follow the fundamental steps of diagnosis, it can lead to serious injury and death.
Henson Fuerst is Here to Help
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries due to a missed or delayed diagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain & suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. Call Henson Fuerst today at (919) 781-1107 or fill out an initial consultation form online to speak with one of our experienced North Carolina Medical Malpractice attorneys.
At Henson Fuerst, our legal team has extensive experience standing up to hospitals, insurance companies, and anyone else trying to prevent you from receiving the full and fair compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today to learn how Henson Fuerst may be able to help.
When you call, you can discuss your case with one of our caring, dedicated Medical Malpractice lawyers. At Henson Fuerst, most of our cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay us nothing unless we win or settle your case. Some cases, however, are handled on an hourly or project basis depending on case circumstances and facts.
Call us today for an initial free case review and consultation, and we will talk further with you about how we may be able to help.
