Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis in the Emergency Room
Biopsies
Autopsy Studies
Preventing Misdiagnosis or Other Errors
DON’T DELAY If Misdiagnosis or Errors Are Suspected
Medical errors are one of the Nation’s leading causes of death and injury according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (www.ahrq.gov). A recent report by the Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 44,000 to 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as the result of medical errors. This means that more people die from medical errors than from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer or AIDS.
The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) www.npsf.org commissioned a survey to review patient opinions about medical mistakes. 42% of the people reported a medical mistake and of those 40% called it a “misdiagnosis or treatment error.”
Timely treatment is critical in preventing further damage or even death. Misdiagnosis or mismanaged diagnostic tests can lead to delayed treatment.
Conditions Most Commonly Misdiagnosed
- Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
- Breast Cancer
- Tuberculosis
- Lung Cancer
- Diabetes
- Prostate Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Strokes
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Bacterial Meningitis
- Appendicitis
Myocardial infarction and appendicitis are likely to be related to emergency department visits; whereas cancers are more common in general doctor’s work.
Misdiagnosis in the Emergency Room
Misdiagnosis rates in the ICU or emergency room ranged from 20% to 40%. These misdiagnosis rates are likely to be higher than the overall health care misdiagnosis rate because of the time-critical and serious nature of the diagnosis under these crisis situations. Delayed treatment related to misdiagnosis is the primary cause of injury. One study found a rate of 20% of misdiagnosis in the ICU. Appendicitis is another common and serious misdiagnosis in the Emergency Department especially among children.
Biopsies
Biopsies are used to identify abnormal cells, such as in cancer. A sample of tissue is worked up onto a slide and then manually viewed by a pathologist or more commonly a technician. This inherently human process has a clear risk of error and can lead to misdiagnosis.
Autopsy Studies
The medical staff of Janet, Jenner & Suggs is trained to recognize inconsistencies, omissions and cover-ups in reports and diagnostic results. One useful way to detect misdiagnosis is to perform an autopsy, and then compare the original diagnosis with that found at autopsy. Various studies have found major differences, with discrepancy rates as high as 40% in the hospital ICU (CHEST, February 2001). Unfortunately, autopsy rates are declining for various reasons and the opportunity to measure misdiagnosis in this way is reduced.
Preventing misdiagnosis or other errors.
Always make sure you are clear with your doctor about the symptoms that you are feeling. Do not let him/her ignore your complaints without giving you a reasonable response as to why you may be feeling the way that you do. Also, make sure that you clearly understand what your doctor is telling you. Ask questions! If tests are shown or explained to you and you do not understand them, make the doctor stop and discuss them in further detail with you.
DON’T DELAY If Misdiagnosis Or Errors Are Suspected.
You may be experiencing pain and suffering and severe financial hardships. You should not go through this difficult time alone. You, the patient, should not be paying for your doctor’s mistakes or negligence. If you or a loved one is living with the consequences of a doctor error or misdiagnosis, it is important to contact experienced lawyers who can protect your rights and get you the compensation to which you are entitled.
First, remember that it is your burden to prove the doctor’s negligence. Do not delay – time is of the essence. All states have statute of limitations that limit the time in which you can file these types of claims. A delay may make it impossible to collect the compensation to which you are entitled.