When A Diagnostic Delay Or Omission Leads To A Disastrous Outcome
When it comes to cancer and other progressive diseases, time is of the essence. That is, a timely diagnosis can make the difference between life and death. It can also make the difference between successful treatment and expensive medical procedures. It can make the difference between a smooth recovery and prolonged suffering for the patient. To sum up, a delayed diagnosis can do a patient much harm that could be prevented with a timely diagnosis in many cases.
For these reasons, the team at Galligan Law acts with a sense of urgency when a potential client or a new client presents evidence of having suffered harm because of a delayed diagnosis. Our goal in such a case is to recover appropriate compensation that may allow the patient to get the treatment they need or mitigate financial losses resulting from the delayed diagnosis.
The Most Common Misdiagnosed Conditions
When you go to the emergency room, you expect that the doctors will be able to correctly identify the problem. However, millions of misdiagnosis errors are reported every year. From failing to diagnose cancer to missing the signs of a stroke in the emergency room, a missed diagnosis can cause you to lose valuable time in treating your condition.
Some of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions include:
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Stroke
- Sepsis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Brain hemorrhage
- Aortic aneurysm
- Spinal cord compression/injury
- Venous thromboembolism
If a misdiagnosis caused the death of a loved one, a permanent disability or caused you to miss essential and life-saving treatments, you may have a medical malpractice claim.
When Is Delayed Diagnosis A Cause For A Lawsuit?
To be legally actionable, a delayed diagnosis must make a difference in the treatment outcome of a patient. When the diagnosis of a heart attack is unnecessarily prolonged, the result may be heart damage, a hypoxic brain injury or a premature death. The optimum timetable for diagnosing and treating cancer will depend on the type of cancer, since different cancers grow at different rates. Probate cancer, for example, grows slowly, whereas pancreatic cancer can take the life of a sufferer very quickly. Determining whether the treatment outcome was impacted by a delay requires expert analysis of the facts. Our law firm maintains a robust network of medical experts who strengthen our clients’ medical malpractice cases.
Diagnostic delays or omissions are potentially catastrophic not only in the case of cancer but also for any serious medical condition. A delay in identifying an infection or addressing post-operational conditions can bring harsh consequences. These are just a few examples of delayed diagnosis cases that can make a medical malpractice claim viable. A delayed diagnosis may result in a worsening of health, whereas a timely diagnosis would preserve the opportunity for a successful recovery.
Request A Case Review From An Attorney With A Strong Reputation
Medical malpractice lawyer Brian P. Galligan has earned the respect of many in the legal profession, including attorneys and judges. Much of the clientele of Galligan Law comes through attorney referrals. Anyone in Iowa who may have an injury claim due to a doctor’s or diagnostic laboratory’s delay in diagnosis should contact the law firm to schedule a consultation.
Call Local: 515-316-6179 or send an email inquiry to arrange to discuss your cancer, meningitis or any medical condition that became worse after a health care professional failed to diagnose it on time.
