Columbia Misdiagnosis Lawyer
A misdiagnosis can result in delayed treatment, incorrect treatment, and/or being prescribed the wrong medication, all of which can cause serious detriment to the patient’s health. Physicians and hospitals are bound by a duty of care, and when this duty is violated and a patient is harmed, the at-fault party can be sued for medical malpractice. The Columbia misdiagnosis lawyers at Simmons Law Firm can help you recover damages for your injury or illness by holding the at-fault party accountable for their misdiagnosis of your condition.
Misdiagnosis is More Common Than Most People Assume
While we like to think that our healthcare system is impervious to errors, the truth is that hundreds of thousands of people across the country suffer serious illness and injury due to doctors’ misdiagnosis. According to Healthline, 12 million Americans are adversely affected by diagnostic mistakes each year. Of these people, 40,000 to 80,000 die because of complications from their misdiagnosis. And, women and minorities are up to 30 percent more likely to be misdiagnosed than white males. You may be able to seek financial compensation if you were misdiagnosed and harmed due to:
- Delayed treatment;
- Unnecessary/dangerous procedure; or
- Being prescribed the wrong medication.
Damages you may be able to be compensated for include medical expenses, ongoing medical costs, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD, loss of joy of life, and more.
The Most Common Types of Serious Misdiagnosis
According to AARP, the most commonly misdiagnosed illnesses include Lupus, Parkinson’s Disease, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Celiac Disease, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. While the delayed or misdiagnosis of any of these serious conditions or illnesses can result in significant harm, the following three types of misdiagnosed result in death, debilitation, or serious loss of joy in life:
- Delayed or Misdiagnosis of Heart Attack—A patient suffering a heart attack requires immediate medical attention in the form of clot dissolving drugs, balloon angioplasty, and/or surgery. If a heart attack goes misdiagnosed, permanent damage can be caused to the body’s most important muscle. A misdiagnosed heart attack often leads to death.
- Misdiagnosis of Stroke—As with a heart attack, life saving drugs must be administered quickly following a stroke. In some cases, clot dissolving drugs should be given intravenously to save the patient’s brain from irreparable damage.
- Failure to Diagnose Cancer—Some cancers are slow-growing, while others can spread rapidly within a matter of months. Oftentimes, quick and aggressive treatment of cancer can save a patient’s life, while delayed treatment due to misdiagnosis may result in the patient losing their life, or having to undergo a dangerous surgery or medication procedure that would have otherwise been unnecessary had the illness been caught in time.
Contact Simmons Law Firm Today if You were Misdiagnosed
Doctors, radiologists, and hospitals must always adhere to a specific standard of care when diagnosing and treating patients. Failure to do so can lead to needless pain and suffering, or the tragic loss of life of loved ones. Call the Columbia misdiagnosis attorneys at Simmons Law Firm at 803-779-4600 to schedule a free consultation today.
