Knowledgeable Delayed Diagnosis Attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri
At The Gogel Law Firm, our delayed diagnosis lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri understands the immense – and often irreversible – harm deferred medical treatment can cause when physicians do not pursue the proper tests or follow-up care to determine exactly what is wrong with their patients.
Our St. Louis medical malpractice attorney and law firm founder, Jeremy A. Gogel, knows first-hand how challenging it can be to “catch up” on treatment after a medical diagnosis is delayed, as it is often stressful, painful, and ultimately unsuccessful.
Formerly an insurance defense lawyer, Jeremy realized his passion was helping individuals fight for the financial compensation they deserve when medical malpractice caused their injuries or the loss of their loved one. We turn that passion into an aggressive fight for the proper compensation our clients deserve from the insurance companies to return to the quality of life they enjoyed before their lives were turned upside down.
What is the Difference Between a Delayed Diagnosis and a Misdiagnosis?
When an individual seeks medical care, they are doing so to improve their well-being by understanding what their health condition, disease, or ailment might be, so they can treat it in a timely manner — with the intent of making a full recovery.
When a delayed diagnosis occurs, it specifically means that the patient sought medical care, but the treating physician, hospital, or another medical facility did not diagnose the actual condition from which he or she was suffering.
Delayed diagnosis often leads to physicians unnecessarily treating patients for ailments they do not have, which can cause significant pain, suffering, and medical costs until the proper diagnosis is made and the correct treatment is ordered.
A misdiagnosis is different and refers to cases where the doctor diagnoses a condition, but the diagnosis is incorrect.
At The Gogel Law Firm, Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in St. Louis, MO Focuses On The Following Practice Areas:
- Anesthesia Error
- Birth Injury
- Emergency Room Case
- Failure To Diagnose Cancer
- Failure To Diagnose Stroke
- Hospital Negligence
- Opioid Death
- Surgical Errors
When Does a Delayed Diagnosis Reach the Level of Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice requires that a physician violates the medical standard of care that another medical professional would have provided under the same circumstances.
The first benchmark of medical malpractice involves three factors being true.
- First, a patient-physician relationship must have existed.
- Next, the physician was negligent in their duties to provide proper care.
- And finally, the physician’s negligence caused actual injury to the patient.
Specifically, a delayed diagnosis occurs when the condition is likely to worsen because of the time that elapsed until the proper diagnosis was made.
Common examples of delayed diagnosis may include:
- Patient-reported certain symptoms, but a doctor dismissed them
- A doctor notices something is wrong but does not order further tests
- A patient’s lab improperly conducted or lost
- A doctor fails to refer a patient to a specialist, even when it is clear they should
- A doctor but the doctor dismisses these patient-reported symptoms as being signs of a less serious illness
- The doctor should have taken further action such as conducting different tests or asking different questions but did not do so
If you have suffered a further injury because of a delayed diagnosis, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorney in St. Louis today to learn more about your legal rights and options to hold the negligence physician or medical facility liable for medical malpractice.
What are Some of the Most Common Delayed Diagnosis Conditions?
A delayed diagnosis often results in significant obstacles in getting the care patients to need to get their lives back on track.
Some of the most common delayed diagnosis cases involve:
- Infections, including Staph and MRSA
- Ligament damage
- Internal bleeding
- Brain injuries
- Crohn’s disease
- Breast cancer
- Stroke
- Heart attacks
- Colon cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Meningitis
- Surgical errors
Our St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys can help you determine if your case meets the necessary criteria to pursue a claim against the medical provider who delayed your diagnosis.
What Happens When Delayed Medical Care Leads to Death in St. Louis, Missouri?
A delayed diagnosis can lead to serious ailments, including advanced stages of cancer, heart problems, circulatory issues, and other ailments that, if diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, could have led to a higher survival rate.
If your loved one lost their life because of an advanced health condition, disease, or ailment that advanced because of a delayed diagnosis, contact our skilled medical malpractice lawyer in St. Louis to learn if you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the liable person or party for your loved one’s loss.
Contact Our Compassionate Delayed Diagnosis Attorneys in St. Louis at the Gogel Law Firm Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you have suffered further injury or have lost a loved one because of a delayed medical diagnosis, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri today to schedule a free consultation by calling (314) 370-8173 or contact us online to have one of our skilled lawyers call you.
Frequently Asked Questions for Our Personal Injury Attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri
Does it Meet the Medical Malpractice Standards if My Test Results Were Read Incorrectly?
Medical chart errors and incorrectly reading test results are two common factors in a delayed diagnosis. It stands to reason, that if the error would not have occurred, the physician could have accurately diagnosed the patient’s condition in a timely manner and ordered the proper care right away.
What Should I Do If I Am Impacted by Delayed Diagnosis?
A delayed diagnosis can negatively affect anyone’s life and should not be taken lightly. If you believe you are the victim of medical malpractice, contact our skilled personal injury lawyer in St. Louis to investigate your claim, gather all necessary medical documentation, and analyze the facts to help establish what tests were conducted, on what dates the examinations occurred, and why the delay occurred.
What Damages Am I Entitled to Because of My Delayed Diagnosis Injuries?
All delayed diagnosis injuries are unique and will affect each patient differently. Our St. Louis medical malpractice attorney will review your case and outline the financial recovery you may be entitled to, including medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Delayed Diagnosis Claim in Missouri?
Personal injury claims must be filed within five years of the date the injury occurred unless it was impossible to learn of the injury at that time, then the five-year period begins upon learning of the injury.
