Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers know that many serious medical conditions such as cancer, heart attacks, and strokes are often missed by physicians. Many times, physicians ignore the patient’s symptoms, fail to order the proper diagnostic tests, or improperly read the results of those tests. Whatever the reason, misdiagnosing or failure to diagnose a condition is very dangerous and can have devastating effects on the patient.
Depending on the stage of a patient’s medical condition, a missed diagnosis can affect the treatment options available to that patient. For instance, failure to diagnose certain types of cancer at an early stage and provide immediate treatment will allow the cancer to metastasize and spread. In cases where a physician fails to diagnosis cancers like bladder cancer or breast cancer, it allows the cancer time to progress to a more serious stage. Unfortunately, by that time it may too late to treat the cancer and the outcome will be fatal. Likewise, missing signs that could indicate a heart attack or stroke can also lead to more serious and fatal events occurring.
It is difficult for a patient to determine if a physician has misdiagnosed their medical condition. However, some patients may continue to experience symptoms that indicate that there is an underlying health issue. Patients are advised to continue to talk to their physicians about their symptoms, especially if their symptoms are worsening or if they experience pain. It is also recommended that patients demand further testing or even seek a second opinion. Patients should continue to follow up until they feel that they have received adequate medical testing and medical care.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers Advise Patients What to Do Following a Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis
In the event that a patient has been misdiagnosed with a condition or later becomes aware that their physician has failed to diagnose a condition causing a delay in treatment, that patient should immediately seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional if they have not already done so. The patient should also talk to their treating physicians about their treatment options and prognosis.
Medical professionals are ultimately responsible for providing patients with a generally accepted standard of care. Any deviation from that standard of care may be considered a breach of that responsibility or duty to the patient. When that breach has occurred and caused an injury to the patient, there are likely grounds for a medical malpractice claim against the physician or other medical professional. Each claim is different because every case will have a distinct set of facts and every patient’s medical history will vary. Therefore, patients who have been misdiagnosed with a condition or patients who have a condition that their physician has failed to diagnose should immediately contact an attorney for further guidance.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Philadelphia and New Jersey
The Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling medical malpractice cases resulting from failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis of many medical conditions. Our extremely skilled team of medical malpractice attorneys and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries as a result of a physician’s failure to diagnose or treat cancer, heart attack, stroke or another serious medical treatment, contact the medical malpractice lawyers of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.