Recognizing the Signs of a Misdiagnosis
Medical misdiagnosis is a significant issue in the United States. According to research, 12 million adults are misdiagnosed yearly in the nation, with women and minorities being at a greater risk of being misdiagnosed. However, anyone can be affected by a misdiagnosis, and the consequences can be severe. A misdiagnosis can result in delayed treatment or untreated conditions. In this article, we discuss the meaning of misdiagnosis, its causes, and ways to identify it at an early stage.
What Is a Misdiagnosis?
A misdiagnosis is one of the three types of diagnostic errors. The other two are delayed and a missed diagnosis. A misdiagnosis arises when a doctor incorrectly identifies a patient’s medical condition, resulting in incorrect or missed treatments that can worsen a patient’s health or cause irreversible harm. In other words, it is when a doctor tells a patient they have a condition they do not have. This is different from missed diagnosis, which arises when a doctor never identifies the correct condition, and delayed diagnosis, which occurs when a correct diagnosis is made later than it should have been.
Common Causes of Misdiagnosis
A doctor may misdiagnose a patient for several reasons, including the following:
- Rushing to confirm a diagnosis without full information
- Communication breakdowns
- Overlapping symptoms
- Failure to order appropriate tests
- Implicit bias, which refers to the unconscious attitudes and stereotypes doctors may have about patients
If a misdiagnosis occurs due to preventable reasons, such as a doctor rushing to confirm a diagnosis without full information, you may have legal options.
Recognizing the Signs of a Misdiagnosis
The following are some common signs of a misdiagnosis:
- You Are Not Getting Better
If your condition has not changed or worsened since your doctor diagnosed it, it may be time for a second opinion.
- Conflicting Opinions From Other Doctors
If you’ve already sought a second opinion, and the other provider disagreed with the original diagnosis, do not ignore the discrepancy. Pursue further assessment or testing.
- You Were Diagnosed Too Quickly
Most medical conditions require a clear sequence of exams and tests before a doctor can give a diagnosis. If you received your diagnosis too fast, especially for a complex or uncommon condition, the doctor might not have used all the available diagnostic tools. Consider asking for a more thorough evaluation.
- You Had an Incomplete Talk With the Doctor
Healthcare providers are sometimes overworked or rushed. Sometimes, they do not have enough time with a patient. This might lead to the doctor not getting enough information necessary to make the correct diagnosis. If the doctor did not ask for the following information, you should consider seeking further evaluation:
- You and your family’s medical history
- Your symptoms and when they started
- The medication, supplements, or treatments you were on
- Your medical procedure and surgical history
Legal Help Is Available
If you suspect a misdiagnosis that could have been prevented, contact our qualified Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at Carroll Law Firm for help understanding your legal rights and options.
Source:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24742777/
