Pennsylvania residents trust their doctors to correctly and accurately diagnose their medical ailments. In most cases, people do not have the medical knowledge to make these diagnosis on their own. Doctors, on the other hand, have years of schooling and practical training that is supposed to give them the ability to spot and treat illness and injuries.
When doctors fail to diagnose patients, the results can be devastating. A failure to diagnose can result in extra pain and suffering for people, a worsened medical condition or in death. People should understand that doctors are not perfect and can make mistakes. If people suspect a failure to diagnose, they should seek another opinion.
There are some ailments that are more commonly misdiagnosed and missed altogether. Some commonly misdiagnosed conditions include chronic fatigue syndrome, celiac disease and fibromyalgia. Parkinson’s disease — which causes tremors and stiff muscles — is often also misdiagnosed. Doctors often suspect a stroke or Alzheimer’s in these cases. Lupus is also a disease that is missed by doctors who often blame rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia for the symptoms.
Other commonly missed diseases include multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease. Multiple sclerosis can cause cognitive impairment, vision problems and balance issues. This degenerative disease is often mistaken for bipolar disorder or viral infections. Lyme disease, on the other hand, is often mistaken for the flu, depression and meningitis.
When a failure to diagnose results in injuries to a Pennsylvania resident, an attorney may be helpful. An attorney can explain people’s legal rights and options which may lead compensation to medical malpractice victims for their injuries.
Source: AARP, “7 Commonly Misdiagnosed Illnesses,” Mary A. Fischer, accessed Feb. 22, 2015