How Serious Is Medical Misdiagnosis?

Your Legal Options After a Medical Misdiagnosis

Medical errors are now considered a leading cause of accidental death in the United States. One of the most common errors healthcare providers make is a medical misdiagnosis. Unfortunately, misdiagnoses are often not discovered until serious harm is done to the patient either by delayed or incorrect treatment.

At The Beasley Firm, we know the deep trauma that a medical misdiagnosis can inflict on people and their families. We are dedicated to holding negligent providers and hospitals responsible when a misdiagnosis results in harm to a patient. If you believe that you were misdiagnosed, contact our office for a free case evaluation.

How Common Is Medical Misdiagnosis?

According to a study out of Johns Hopkins Medicine, diagnostic errors were the leading form of medical malpractice claims. They were also more costly and harmful than other medical errors such as surgical mistakes and medication overdoses. However, the true cost and harm of medical misdiagnoses are difficult to measure since there are few ways to track the problem.

Medical misdiagnosis may include:

• A missed diagnosis
• A wrong diagnosis
• A delayed diagnosis

Studies show that approximately 12 million people are medically misdiagnosed each year, but it is also believed that many more cases remain undetected. Diagnostic errors are devastating not only because of the severe harm they can inflict but because they are often preventable. If you believe that you were misdiagnosed, resulting in injury, you should consult with an attorney as soon as possible.

How Serious Is Medical Misdiagnosis?

As noted by Johns Hopkins, The number of people suffering from “significant permanent injury or death” related to medical misdiagnosis is somewhere between 80,000 and 160,000 each year. Diagnostic errors result in death or disability almost 2x as often as other medical errors. 

Types of harm related to medical misdiagnosis:

• Brain damage
• Quadriplegia
• Lung cancer
• Vascular issues
• Stroke
• Sepsis
• Death

Some of the leading diagnostic errors include those related to cancer, infection, and vascular events. Missed or delayed diagnosis in these areas can have catastrophic results. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 80,000 deaths may be related to a medical misdiagnosis, making it one of the most deadly forms of medical malpractice in the country.

How a Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You

When medical misdiagnosis causes you or someone you love serious harm, you may have the right to take legal action against the negligent doctor, nurse, or hospital. You should not have to deal with the effects of someone else’s mistake, especially when it causes physical, emotional, and financial hardships. 

Let our Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys at The Beasley Firm represent you and help you seek the compensation — and justice — you deserve after a misdiagnosis. Let us protect your rights every step of the way. Contact our firm today and learn how we can seek a favorable outcome for your potential case. All consultations are free and without obligation to retain our services. Call now to get started.