Can You Sue a Hospital for Missing a Diagnosis?

Going to see the doctor can be a stressful experience for anyone, but once you do, it is fair to expect that you will be receiving sound and accurate medical advice and treatment. Alarmingly, this is not always the case. Every day, people are misdiagnosed when they are seeking advice and treatment from medical professionals. A misdiagnosis can cause serious health risks.

If you believe that you have been misdiagnosed when visiting the doctor or hospital, you can sue the hospital or staff for their mistakes. Speak with a Santa Rosa medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible about your options.

What is Misdiagnosis?

A medical misdiagnosis could be when a medical practitioner provides a delayed diagnosis, incorrect diagnosis, or a failure to diagnose medical issues or conditions, which results in the patient becoming more injured or having additional complications. A medical misdiagnosis is a serious issue and could lead to fatalities if the patient does not receive correct information and treatment. If you believe you have received a misdiagnosis for a medical issue, it is advisable to seek guidance from a knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney.

What are common misdiagnoses?

Unfortunately, a medical misdiagnosis is not as rare of an occurrence as some might expect. Some of the more common medical misdiagnoses include:

• Misdiagnosing cancer and, therefore, delaying treatment is one of the biggest errors in the medical field.
• Assuming that a patient who is reporting chest pains is just experiencing mild indigestion or another non-critical issue and missing the early signs of a heart attack.
• Identifying that a patient is having a stroke but misdiagnosing the type of stroke that they are experiencing. This can result in the wrong treatment, complicating the issue and prolonging any potential recovery.

Should I start a medical malpractice case?

If you believe that you have received delayed or incorrect medical information when seeking professional medical advice, it can be overwhelming to consider your options. Many people might brush off the experience and work to find a competent doctor and hospital.

A misdiagnosis can lead to critical health issues and even might result in death if not corrected. A medical malpractice attorney can help you navigate through the process of determining whether or not you should start a case. A medical malpractice case can help provide financial support to deal with the aftermath of your illness and injuries. Bringing awareness through a medical malpractice case can also help to prevent the medical practitioner who misdiagnosed you from continuing to do so for other patients.

Talk to a Santa Rosa Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Dealing with a medical malpractice issue is especially difficult when you are already injured or seeking medical care. If you think you might need to sue a hospital for missing a diagnosis, it is advisable to seek guidance from an experienced Santa Rosa medical malpractice lawyer.

At The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. we are dedicated to helping our clients who are facing potential medical malpractice claims. Contact us today online or call us at 415-433-0447 to learn more about your options.