When it comes to medical care, most trust that their doctor or hospital will recommend and provide the best care possible. For most people, this is the result after a visit to a medical provider. But what happens when a person does not receive a satisfactory level of care? Could it result in a worsened medical condition?
The short answer is, yes. Doctors and medical professionals are not miracle workers, however, they are expected to uphold a certain standard of care. For example, if you were diagnosed with a panic attack, and treated for such, you could have compounding medical incidences based on the fact that you did not in fact have a panic attack – instead you were suffering with COPD or a similar respiratory disease. If a doctors didn’t take proper precautions or did not weight the facts correctly upon discovering your true diagnose – they could be held accountable for the fall-out and the failure to diagnose.
What could be the fallout of a misdiagnosis? Well, a worsened medical condition for starters. It could also result in unnecessary medical bills since one was not properly treated for their true condition. It could also result in unnecessary medical bills related to the incorrect treatment that was ordered under the misdiagnosis. There are many ways that this could impact your life financially.
Significant pain and suffering could result for when a person is diagnosed erroneously. For some Pittsburgh residents, this event has happened to them. It is possible to hold the appropriate medical parties accountable after a misdiagnosis leaves you or a loved one injured. It can really affect the course of life for the patient.
Source: injury.findlaw.com, “Failed/Erroneous Diagnosis and Treatment,” Accessed February 6, 2017