All it takes is one diagnostic error to change a patient's life in drastic ways. The effects of a diagnostic error depend on how severe the error is and what medical condition the person is dealing with. Some diagnostic mistakes involve minor effects while others can be life-threatening. You might be able to take legal action if this happened to you. All you have to do is discuss your situation with a New York City medical malpractice lawyer who can help.

Harm Caused by Diagnostic Errors

The harm caused by diagnostic errors is more widespread than many people might think. Thousands of patients are injured or pass away each year in the United States as a result of diagnostic errors. Many of

the patients who live are left with lifelong disabilities and impairments.

This is how one diagnostic error can change the rest of someone's life. Out of the thousands of medical malpractice claims filed each year, diagnostic errors represent some of the most common forms of malpractice. Compared to other forms of medical malpractice, diagnostic mistakes tend to lead to more deaths and disabilities.

Diagnostic errors can occur in several different ways. The three main types of diagnostic errors are missed diagnoses, delayed diagnoses, and wrong diagnoses. Missed diagnoses, the most common type, occur when a medical professional misses a symptom or sign and fails to diagnose a medical condition. When the medical condition is something as serious as cancer, the result of missing this can be catastrophic.

Delayed diagnoses can have similar effects on a patient with cancer. If a doctor fails to detect cancer soon enough, then this delays treatment which could result in cancer spreading. Wrong diagnoses may lead to unnecessary tests and treatments that fail to treat the underlying condition, wasting time and money.

How Diagnostic Errors Happen

When it comes to diagnostic error causes, these can happen during almost any phase of the diagnostic process. The phases of the diagnostic process include presentation, history taking, physical exam, tests, assessment, referral, and follow-up. An error could be deemed negligent if there is reason to believe there was an act of commission or omission.

An act of commission can happen during diagnosing when a doctor does something wrong or incorrect during the diagnosis. This might be intentionally ignoring test results or symptoms. Omission happens when a doctor fails to do the right thing or fails to take the required steps in the diagnostic process.

You may not have to pay for your medical bills and other damages if your health provider acted negligently. Consider contacting a New York City medical malpractice lawyer if you have questions about suing.

New York City Medical Malpractice Lawyer

You may not have to pay for the negative effects of misdiagnosis. Call the Sullivan and Brill Law Firm at (212) 566-1000 today to talk to a New York medical malpractice attorney for a free consultation. Our Bronx legal team can help you obtain compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical costs. We serve clients in New York City, Long Island, Kings, Bronx, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.