Commonly Misdiagnosed Health Conditions Lead to Further Injury

Medical professionals study and practice for years, thus enabling them to properly diagnose and treat even the rarest of conditions. Hence, when a patient visits a medical practice or hospital, his or her well-being is entrusted to the care of the doctor or establishment. However, more uncommon diseases are frequently misdiagnosed. A medical misdiagnosis puts a patient in harm’s way, therefore causing unnecessary damage to the very patient the doctor has sworn to help.

The Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that some forms of cancer are missed or otherwise misdiagnosed up to 44 percent of the time. Types of cancer leading the misdiagnosis include skin cancers, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Inadequate time designation for patient evaluation is cited as one of the reasons for the high prevalence rate.

Heart attacks present with a variety of symptoms that vary from person-to-person, between age groups, and even between genders. A young male may display signs of chest pain while an elderly female may complain of digestive complications and report no chest pain at all. Symptoms of a heart attack are also indicative of several other less severe diagnoses. If improperly diagnosed, patients may experience permanent heart damage or even death.

A proper diagnosis of depression requires both a physical exam and a complete medical history. If a doctor fails to take the time necessary to gather all pertinent information, a patient may endure treatment for other disorders, such as anxiety or PTSD, without ever having any relief, or worse, experiencing an adverse reaction to the incorrect medication.

Celiac Disease is a hereditary autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from properly absorbing nutrients due to an adverse reaction caused by the ingestion of gluten. If left untreated, a patient may experience diabetes, infertility, or multiple sclerosis. An estimated 83 percent of patients go undiagnosed for Celiac Disease, and many are misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Doctors are in high demand. Unfortunately, however, this demand can result in high stress and busy schedules. Many offices overbook their days to compensate for “no-shows,” but to also meet the demands of their patients. These modern practices result in shortened visits where patients are not given the appropriate amount of time to discuss their full history and symptoms. Hence, an alarming amount of errors result.

If you or a loved one suffered from a misdiagnosis that resulted in further injury or delayed recovery time, a Santa Clara County, CA misdiagnosis attorney can help. Your doctor took an oath to help you to the best of their ability, a promise they failed to keep. Let Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. earn you the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (408) 289-1417 to schedule your free initial consultation.

• 10 Commonly Misdiagnosed Conditions
• Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine
• Misdiagnosis of Heart attack
• What is Celiac Disease?