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Failure to Diagnose
One of the most common forms of medical malpractice is the failure to diagnose a condition. Failure to diagnose can also be inclusive of a delayed diagnosis. With certain medical conditions the delay or failure to diagnose can allow the disease to progress into stages that are irreparable. In instances such as cancer, the failure to diagnosis the disease in a timely manner could mean the difference between life and death. Statistics show that near 40% of all medical malpractice claims are due to the failure to diagnose some type of condition.
It is the duty of a physician to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of certain conditions. In the event that the doctor finds symptoms present that they cannot diagnose, they are responsible to determine what the root of the cause is. In instances that a patient has high risk factors to develop certain conditions, a doctor should be aware of those conditions, monitor if their risk has increased, and understand they have a higher likelihood of developing that condition. If there is a delayed diagnosis, a failure to diagnose or an under-diagnosed condition by the doctor, the patient will be unable to receive early treatment methods that may be necessary to prevent a condition from escalating.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
It is the duty of a physician to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of certain conditions. In the event that the doctor finds symptoms present that they cannot diagnose, they are responsible to determine what the root of the cause is. In instances that a patient has high risk factors to develop certain conditions, a doctor should be aware of those conditions, monitor if their risk has increased, and understand they have a higher likelihood of developing that condition. If there is a delayed diagnosis, a failure to diagnose or an under-diagnosed condition by the doctor, the patient will be unable to receive early treatment methods that may be necessary to prevent a condition from escalating.
Failure to Diagnose – It’s also the Insurance Company's Responsibility
Testing and follow-up care are costs that the Insurance companies need to absorb. Often times, Insurance companies will short change the patient on these procedures and end up putting the patient in a situation where a condition has not been diagnosed. In recent years, Insurance companies have seen almost double the number of medical malpractice claims filed against them. Cancer is one of the most common conditions that doctors have been criticized for failing to diagnose, and insurance companies have been paying more for the failure to diagnose cancer compared to all other types of claims.
The result of a failure to diagnose can have serious consequences and even end in death. A medical malpractice claim can be very in-depth and requires a lawyer who is knowledgeable in the medical malpractice subject, specifically failure to diagnose cases.
Within the section, you’ll find more specific failure to diagnose conditions including:
- Cancer Misdiagnosed
- Associated Disease
- Complications Not Diagnosed
- Heart Attack Misdiagnosed
- Over-diagnosed Conditions
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Medical Malpractice News
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