According to a recent news story in Ohio, a pathologist claims to have new evidence that proves hundreds of women patients were misdiagnosed with human papillomavirua and precancerous conditions at the Ohio State University Medical Center. This story highlights a common, and often devastating form of medical negligence: the misdiagnosis, or failure to diagnose, of a disease or medical condition.
The misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a disease or medical condition occurs when a doctor does not follow through on his or her duty to determine the root cause of an alignment. This usually occurs when a doctor finds symptoms that he or she cannot diagnose, meaning that the symptoms do not point to an exact condition, such as the flu.
Misdiagnosing, or failing to diagnose diseases such as breast or lung cancer, or a heart attack, can be deadly. Cancer can spread to other parts of the body and other organs, making treatment useless and ultimately leading to death. Misdiagnosing a heart attack can also delay life-saving treatment. If you have lost a loved one due to a failure to diagnose, contact a top Chicago medical malpractice lawyer with Passen & Powell today.
In addition to following through on his or her duty to find the root cause of an ailment or condition, a doctor should also know whether or not a patient has high risk factors, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, or a family history of certain types of cancer. Failure to know and monitor such high risk factors may be considered negligence.
It should be noted that not every failure to diagnose, or misdiagnosis constitutes medical malpractice or negligence. There are many factors that play a role in any medical diagnosis, so it is important to consult with an experienced medical negligence attorney about your case to determine if negligence occurred. For a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call us at (312) 527-4500.
