Types of Misdiagnosis
There are three main types of misdiagnosis.
1. Delayed diagnosis - this is a situation in which the condition was diagnosed properly, but much later than it should have been. It is prudent to consult a medical malpractice attorney if this situation has occurred.
2. Failure to diagnose - in this case, the condition was never diagnosed at all
3. Misdiagnosis - this is the most obvious form of misdiagnosis in which a condition is diagnosed as being another condition entirely
How to Help Ensure That You Aren"t Misdiagnosed
There are some simple steps that you can take to help confirm a diagnosis and help make sure that you are not misdiagnosed:
· Consult a specialist
· Get a second opinion
· Obtain additional medical tests
· Research the medical condition
However, even if you take some or all of the additional steps, you may still be misdiagnosed.
How Misdiagnoses Occur
There are many factors that may contribute to misdiagnosis such as:
· Common diseases are known better
· Confusing symptoms, especially behavioral or mental ones
· Cost considerations
· Human error such as:
o Improperly performed tests
o Judgment errors in reading test results
o Sample contamination
o Sample mix-ups
· Incomplete or inaccurate (false positives or false negatives) lab tests
· Not enough in-depth analysis about the condition
· Preconception or bias of the physician
· Skill level of the physician
· Some diseases are overpublicized
· Time constraints
If any of these factors are present they may contribute to or even completely cause a misdiagnosis to occur.
Consequences of Misdiagnosis
The costs of misdiagnosis can be severe and last the rest of your life. They can be:
· Mental
· Physical
· Emotional
· Financial
These costs place an unfair burden on you when you are already suffering from a medical condition or disease. In order to mitigate these consequences, you may want to discuss your case with a qualified lawyer.
The fact that you or a loved one is suffering from a disease or other condition has already changed your life forever. Don"t add insult to injury by accepting the fact that the condition was misdiagnosed. Get help from as many resources as possible as soon as possible