At The Gogel Law Firm, our St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys know that even highly educated medical professionals can make mistakes. Unfortunately, when they do, they often result in serious injuries, illnesses, and potentially life-threatening complications for their patients.
Among the most common types of healthcare mistakes made in Missouri and across the U.S. are diagnostic errors.
A diagnostic error is defined as a diagnosis that is missed, wrong, or delayed. Diagnostic errors often result in a multitude of additional medical tests and healthcare assessments to determine the proper issue. This means the patient is losing both precious treatment time and money.
If you have suffered the consequences of a prolonged injury or illness caused by a diagnostic error, our skilled St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys want to hear your story, so we can ensure your rights are protected going forward.
What are the Most Common Types of Diagnostic Errors in Missouri?
One of the most common types of diagnostic errors in Missouri and across the nation is misdiagnosis. A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor diagnoses a patient with the wrong illness.
An estimated 12 million cases of misdiagnosis are reported each year in the U.S.
For some patients, even after a late diagnosis, some misdiagnosed illnesses can still be resolved.
Other times, the misdiagnosis allows the illness to worsen beyond the point of treatment, leading to other serious medical complications or even wrongful death.
While misdiagnosis can happen in any medical facility, research has shown that three types of health conditions account for nearly 75% of serious misdiagnosis-related harms.
They include infections, cancers, and vascular events that can lead to:
- Breast Cancer
- Heart Attack
- Lung Cancer
- Lyme Disease
- Meningitis and Encephalitis
- Pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Stroke
- Tuberculosis
Besides misdiagnosis, other diagnostic errors can include:
- Delayed Diagnosis.
- Failure to Diagnose an Unrelated Disease.
- Failure to Diagnose Related Diseases.
- Failure to Recognize Complications.
- Missed Diagnosis.
If you or a loved one is suffering the consequences of a medical diagnostic error, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in St. Louis today to discuss your case during a free consultation.
What are the Most Common Reasons Physicians Commit Diagnostic Errors?
While no two sets of circumstances that lead to a medical diagnostic error are the same, there are common reasons why physicians continue to commit these dangerous mistakes.
They can include, but are not limited to, the physician:
- Fails to check the patient’s medical history.
- Fails to communicate effectively with other medical staff.
- Fails to gather the right information.
- Has insufficient medical knowledge.
- Is impaired.
- Is practicing in a medical facility that is understaffed or lacks funding.
- Is sleep deprived.
- Is using medical equipment that is faulty or outdated.
- Rushes to make a diagnosis.
If you or someone you love has suffered foreseeable injuries or illnesses that should have been diagnosed properly, our skilled medical malpractice lawyers in St. Louis at the Gogel Law Firm want to help you seek justice. Contact us today to review your case by calling (314) 370-8173 or online to schedule a free consultation.
