One of the most common reasons for consulting medical malpractice lawyers is that a patient has been misdiagnosed by their doctor. The problem is more common than you might think. According to a 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, autopsy studies show doctors get the diagnosis wrong 10% – 15% of the time.
There are several early warning signs that can help you determine if your diagnosis was incorrect.
- The diagnosis doesn’t fully explain your symptoms. These days, everyone has access to information about diseases and their common symptoms. After receiving a diagnosis from your doctor, there’s nothing wrong with checking the facts for yourself. In fact, most doctors expect that you will get online and do a search for information about your disease. If the information you find refutes the doctor’s explanation, you may have been misdiagnosed.
- The diagnosis is based solely on lab results. If the lab tests show one thing, but the symptoms don’t match your diagnosis, it may be time to request a new test. Labs make mistakes, and not every lab can appropriately diagnose all diseases. Look for a physician that specializes in your illness, and ask to be retested.
- Your diagnosis isn’t based on lab results at all. If your research has shown you that a diagnostic test exists for a condition you’ve been diagnosed with, then you should have had the diagnostic test to prove your condition. If your doctor never ordered the test before beginning treatment, make sure you are tested by a qualified technician.
- Your symptoms aren’t getting better. Your doctor should prescribe treatment after diagnosing your illness. If you’ve undergone the treatment and the symptoms haven’t gone away, it’s a good sign that they are attacking the wrong problem. Some doctors don’t listen to patients when they complain of symptoms that won’t go away. They’re so sure of themselves and the correctness of their diagnosis that they simply refuse to believe a patient’s continued complaints.
- Your doctor explains away your symptoms. If you are tired of hearing excuses for why you’re in pain or having other symptoms, consider the fact that doctors are sometimes lazy and may not be fully listening. Some doctors tend to ignore symptoms that don’t fit easily into a diagnostic algorithm. You don’t have to stand for this kind of treatment. Check with another doctor to get answers.
It’s important to realize that doctors are human, and subject to error just like the rest of us. If you think you’ve been misdiagnosed, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. It could save you time and money, but more importantly, it could even save your life.