A failure to diagnose can be serious for victims of medical malpractice. As a result, it is important for victims of a failure to diagnose to know about available legal resources to help protect them and their families in circumstances of medical malpractice.
A failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis or erroneous diagnosis can all spell serious harm for victims. A failure to diagnose can lead to a worsened medical condition; the victim receiving the wrong medical care or treatment of they have been erroneously diagnosed; the victim not receiving any medical treatment at all; and even death if the medical condition the victim suffers from goes untreated because of a failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis.
As a general rule, a medical care provider may be liable to a victim for their damages if the disease progression that resulted because of a failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis resulted in a worsened condition beyond that which would be expected had the medical condition been properly and timely diagnosed and treated. In some circumstances, of course, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for the patient’s health and may potentially be critical to saving their life.
Victims of a failure to diagnose, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis may feel let down by the medical negligence they have experienced. As a result, it is important for victims of medical malpractice and their families to be familiar with the legal protections available to them that can help with their damages, ensure all of their questions are answered about the process and understand how a claim for damages can help hold a negligent medical care provider responsible for the harm suffered.
