What leads to a misdiagnosis?

Posted in Firm News, Medical Malpractice on May 30, 2017

If you have ever suffered from the misdiagnosis of an illness or medical condition, then you can understand how important it is to get to the bottom of what leads to such a mistake in Washington.  There are many different factors that contribute to a wrong diagnosis, but in general, it usually comes down to human error. Health Grades notes the issues that could lead to a doctor making a diagnosis error.

The doctor’s abilities, knowledge and skills can often lead to an incorrect diagnosis. If you are presenting with symptoms that he or she has never seen before, the doctor would need to be willing to do research or get another care provider to consult on your case in order to find the right illness or disease you have. In some cases, a doctor may not even realize he or she is seeing symptoms of a condition because those symptoms mimic the ones of a more common disease or illness. This leads to you being diagnosed incorrectly.  

Errors may also occur if the doctor is not willing or is unable to take the proper time to spend with you. Many doctors are rushed from patient to patient, spending only about 15 minutes with each one. This often is not enough time to completely assess a patient. Rushing through appointments can lead to overlooking something that could point to the right diagnosis. It could also lead to misunderstandings or not doing a thorough job, which could both lead to an error. This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.