Medical misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider inaccurately identifies a patient’s condition, leading to potentially dangerous outcomes. Whether it results in a missed, delayed, or wrong diagnosis, misdiagnosis can cause significant harm to a person.
Considering nearly 800,000 people suffer from medical malpractice annually, it should come as no surprise that medical misdiagnosis is one of the leading causes of medical malpractice claims. Understanding the types of misdiagnosis and the steps to take in order to prevent it can help you as a patient protect yourself and advocate for better care.
Common Types of Medical Misdiagnosis
Generally speaking, medical misdiagnosis falls into three primary categories:
- Missed Diagnosis: This occurs when a healthcare provider fails to diagnose any condition, allowing the illness to progress untreated, such as a patient presenting symptoms of lung cancer being sent home without a diagnosis, thus resulting in the cancer advancing undetected.
- Delayed Diagnosis: In these cases, the correct diagnosis is made but only after a significant amount of time has passed, often allowing the condition to worsen. A delayed cancer diagnosis, for example, can result in a patient missing the window for early, more effective treatment.
- Wrong Diagnosis: This involves diagnosing the patient with the flat-out wrong condition, which can lead to harmful treatments for an illness they do not have. For instance, a patient with Lyme disease might be misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, causing them to miss critical antibiotic treatment.
In some cases, misdiagnosed patients have even undergone unnecessary surgeries, endured toxic treatments for diseases they didn’t have, or seen their condition progress to the point where it becomes untreatable. If you believe any of the above has happened to you, it’s important to get in touch with an attorney who can help.
Commonly Misdiagnosed Conditions
Some illnesses tend to be more frequently misdiagnosed than others due to their complex symptoms or similarities to other diseases or conditions. On that line of thinking, some of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions to keep an eye out for include:
- Cancer: Certain types of cancer, such as ovarian or pancreatic cancer, are often misdiagnosed because their symptoms can resemble less severe illnesses
- Heart Disease: Especially in women, heart disease symptoms like fatigue and chest pain are sometimes mistaken for stress or anxiety, leading to delayed care
- Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like lupus and multiple sclerosis are notoriously difficult to diagnose correctly, as their symptoms overlap with other diseases
There are a variety of contributing factors that can lead to the misdiagnosis of your ailment including the emergence of a rare condition, insufficient diagnostic testing, and the varying way in which symptoms can manifest in a person.
To add perspective, a heart attack might be misdiagnosed in women because their symptoms are less typical than the ones seen in men.
Root Causes of Medical Misdiagnosis
There are a variety of different reasons that medical misdiagnosis may occur and it’s not often because a doctor has malicious intent. Some causes are human error but some are simply systematic as well.
Starting with human error, physicians can sometimes simply overlook symptoms, forget to order tests or misinterpret test results themselves. Miscommunications between doctors and specialists can also result in a misdiagnosis.
From a systematic level, faulty or inadequate testing can lead to a misdiagnosis as well. If the technology you’re using isn’t cutting edge, the test may not provide a clear-cut result which can cause a doctor to guess or misinterpret their findings. Finally, overworked medical professionals may have limited time with patients.
This healthcare system pressure can lead a doctor to rush their assessment which can increase the likelihood of diagnostic errors. Similarly, overcrowded or underfunded healthcare facilities may not even have the resources necessary for an accurate diagnosis which can lead to the continuation of your condition.
Misdiagnosis of a condition is often not just one of the above root causes, but rather a collection of them, forming the perfect storm that results in your ailment going untreated. If anything, this underscores the importance of systematic improvements in healthcare settings so that fewer people need to live with undiagnosed conditions.
What to Do If You Suspect You’ve Been Misdiagnosed
Being in a position where you feel as if you have been misdiagnosed by a doctor can be a frustrating and scary experience that leaves you unsure of what to do next. Fortunately, you can follow the below steps to get the help or legal assistance you may need:
- Seek a Second Opinion: Don’t hesitate to consult another doctor, especially if your symptoms persist despite treatment or if you feel the diagnosis doesn’t match your experience as a second opinion can either confirm the original diagnosis or offer a different perspective.
- Keep Thorough Medical Records: Ensure you have a complete record of your medical history, including test results, diagnoses, and treatments as having accurate documentation can help healthcare providers reassess your case more effectively or prove in court that something was missed.
- Consult Legal or Patient Advocacy Professionals: If you believe your health has been compromised due to a misdiagnosis, consider reaching out to a medical malpractice attorney or patient advocacy group who can provide guidance on how to proceed, particularly if you are considering legal action.
Taking these steps can help you to mitigate any further harm that the misdiagnosis you suffered may have and can potentially lead to the correct diagnosis and treatment so that you can get your life back on track.
Don’t Settle for a Misdiagnosed Condition
Medical misdiagnosis is a serious issue that can lead to devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences in your life. While the vast majority of healthcare providers work hard to deliver you accurate diagnoses, errors can be unavoidable in some situations which is why you should stay vigilant.
By understanding the different types of misdiagnosis, the common causes, and what to do after it occurs, you can hasten the care you receive to get your ailment treated. Stay informed and stay proactive to secure a correct diagnosis and effective treatment.
