Medical Misdiagnosis

Anyone who has suffered following a misdiagnosis should not have to face the future alone. This can be a particularly distressing time for all parties involved as the medical profession looks to address their initial errors.

 

For the patient, they will need to have people in their corner at all times, and that includes matters relating to compensation. Experienced medical negligence solicitors are on hand to take away some of the issues involved in the aftermath of a misdiagnosis.

 

What is misdiagnosis?

Within the medical profession, a misdiagnosis is defined as an incorrect diagnosis of a condition. In simple terms, a patient attends with a specific illness or injury and a different diagnosis is made. A misdiagnosis can be caused by a number of factors and these may include:

 

  • Medical professionals not listening to patient’s symptoms

  • A referral to the wrong type of specialist

  • An incorrect or inadequate examination

  • Misreading of test results

  • Failure to check on, or a misreading of, the patient’s medical history

 

Those are common occurrences, but this is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other instances where a misdiagnosis could be made. If you are unsure, it’s advisable to contact medical negligence solicitors for guidance and clarification.

 

A medical negligence case can also be defined by what happens next. The patient may suffer a direct injury due to the misdiagnosis, or their original condition may worsen. If either of these factors occurs, there may be a medical negligence case to answer.

 

Commonly misdiagnosed conditions

Potentially, all medical conditions can be misdiagnosed, but some cases will have more serious implications than others. Among the many claims that medical negligence solicitors deal with, the following are among the most common:

 

  • Breaks and fractures

  • Diabetes

  • Stroke

  • Leukaemia misdiagnosis

  • Cancer misdiagnosis

  • Ectopic pregnancy

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Celiac Disease

  • Parkinson’s Disease

  • Multiple Sclerosis

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  • Fibromyalgia

 

While not every condition on that schedule is necessarily life-threatening, each misdiagnosis can have a negative impact on the patient’s everyday activities. Quality of life can be affected and it may not be possible to attend work.

 

No matter what the severity of the condition may be, it is worth checking with medical negligence solicitors. They will listen to and discuss the circumstances of the misdiagnosis and suggest the best way to proceed. Once again, the list above is not exhaustive so, you are advised to consult cancer misdiagnosis solicitors, or general medical negligence solicitors depending on the circumstances of the individual case.

 

Misdiagnosis and mental health

A misdiagnosed condition can affect the patient in many ways. Clearly, there are physical implications of getting the wrong diagnosis for your illness or injury. The original condition, having gone undetected, is only likely to worsen until the point when it is finally identified.

 

What isn’t so easy to detect is the effect that a medical misdiagnosis will have on a patient’s mental health. In the case of a terminal or life-threatening condition, it’s common for the individual to dwell on what ‘might have been’ had the medical professionals made the right conclusion initially.

 

The reality of having to deal with those types of serious conditions may well lead to anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. However, it doesn’t have to be a leukaemia misdiagnosis or similar in order for mental health to be affected.

 

An experienced cancer misdiagnosis solicitor will be aware of the implications on mental equilibrium, while all legal representatives can advise in regards to including these conditions as part of your overall misdiagnosis claim.

 

Getting legal support

The period following a medical misdiagnosis can be a particularly distressing time. Support can come from a number of areas and, in terms of pursuing a case against the medical authorities, it’s important to get legal advice.

 

Experienced medical negligence solicitors realise the implications of an incorrect diagnosis and they will be in your corner during this difficult time. The legal process can, potentially, be a long and complex one, so it’s best to refer the matter to professionals.

 

Under Irish law, the statute of limitations states that the claimant has two years from the date that the injury was sustained to file a claim. It is, however, advisable to file details as soon as possible. When a claim is referred to medical negligence solicitors early, the information is easier to recall. It will also be more straightforward to track down medical records relating to the incident.

 

When contacting your solicitor you may be asked to provide:

 

  • A claim form with full information

  • Access to medical records

  • Any supporting information such as photographs etc

 

Following a misdiagnosis, there may be many things for the patient to deal with, but it is best to contact a solicitor quickly, as this may ensure the best possible outcome in regard to a future claim.