Failure to Diagnose and Medical Misdiagnosis
Failure to Diagnosis and/or Medical Misdiagnosis
The actor, John Ritter died in September 2003 from an aortic dissection (a separating of the lining of a major artery), a commonly misdiagnosed condition. His widow alleged that a California hospital had misdiagnosed his condition several times and had the correct diagnosis been made and proper treatment initiated, he would still be alive today. She ultimately settled a wrongful death lawsuit against this hospital.
Certain diseases are misdiagnosed over and over again such as aortic dissection, heart attack, infection, appendicitis and cancer. Cancer, by far is the most misdiagnosed illness with breast and colorectal cancers in the lead.
Many cancers are treatable when detected in early stages. Treatment of many cancers in an early stage will result in a cure. With aggressive treatment, many will survive the disease. Even for terminal cancer, a correct diagnosis might result in a treatment to extend life and ease the pain.
Medical Misdiagnosis Cases
Proper medical care depends on the proper diagnosis of an illness or disease. Cases involving the misdiagnosis of an illness or disease or cases involving failure to diagnose the disease at all can be very significant, especially when the medical error has deprived the individual of necessary treatment and an opportunity for a favorable outcome.
Our attorneys have extensive experience examining medical records for signs that a doctor’s or other health care provider’s error resulted in the misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose an illness or disease. Working in conjunction with medical experts, we are able to successfully litigate or settle these types of cases.
Please contact the medical malpractice lawyers at KMH if a delayed diagnosis or a wrong diagnosis has caused a loved one’s current suffering or premature death or if a delayed diagnosis has impacted your life.
