What is medical misdiagnosis and what should you do about it?

When you are taken ill or are hurt in an accident, you need to check in at the doctor’s office for a diagnosis and treatment. In an ideal world, the doctor will give an accurate diagnosis and administer the right treatment regime. Unfortunately, things do not always happen this way.

Healthcare providers are people; and like everyone else, they make mistakes. If one of those mistakes involves a misdiagnosis of your condition, then you can suffer serious consequences such as further complications, worsening of your condition and, in the worst case scenario, death. If you suffer damages following a misdiagnosis, you may pursue the doctor in question for financial restitution through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

What qualifies as misdiagnosis?

Misdiagnosis happens when the doctor fails to accurately read the results of a medical test. This can take any of the following forms:

• Wrong diagnosis
• Delayed diagnosis
• Missed diagnosis
• Failure to diagnose

So what should you do following a misdiagnosis?

While healthcare providers are extensively trained, they cannot with absolute certainty know how you feel after the treatment. Thus, it is important that you trust your instincts when it comes to your health. One of the most important things you need to do if your condition fails to improve after treatment is to trust your gut and seek a second opinion.

If the second opinion reveals that you were misdiagnosed, and thus suffered damages, you need to consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. In this case, it is important that you file your claim within the statute of limitations period. In Louisiana, you have one year from the date of your injury to file this lawsuit.

A medical misdiagnosis can have far-reaching implications for your health. Find out how you can protect your rights and interests while pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit.