Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Columbus, OH

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Columbus, OH

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Columbus, OH

When a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional misdiagnoses their patient, the mistake can lead to further health complications, delayed recovery, and even death in some cases. As your dedicated medical malpractice attorneys in Columbus, OH, we are committed to holding medical professionals accountable for their negligence. Injured patients and their families have the right to file an injury claim or sue for medical malpractice if the misdiagnosis caused harm to the patient.

If you believe a doctor made a mistake or failed to accurately diagnose you, it may be worth contacting a medical malpractice attorney in Columbus, OH who can determine if you have a valid case. At the Buckeye Law Group in Columbus, one of our medical malpractice lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation for your losses.

Understanding Different Types of Diagnostic Errors

Misdiagnosis is just one of the several types of diagnostic errors patients are at risk of when they visit a doctor’s office, hospital or emergency room. As the name suggests, a misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition or illness. This can lead to incorrect treatment, incorrect medication or no treatment at all.

It’s not uncommon for cancer patients to be diagnosed with other ailments, which can significantly delay the needed treatments and decrease their chances of recovery. In some cases, this even leads to preventable death. Examples of commonly misdiagnosed cancers include:

• Lung cancer misdiagnosed as a bacterial or fungal infection
• Ovarian cancer misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection
• Colon cancer misdiagnosed as benign polyp
• Leukemia diagnosed as the flu

Other examples of diagnostic errors include:

• Failure to diagnose: Failure to diagnose happens when a medical professional fails to diagnose a medical condition. For example, if a patient presents with chest pain and shortness of breath, but the doctor fails to order an electrocardiogram (ECG) or other tests to rule out a heart attack, this could be considered a failure to diagnose.
• Delayed Diagnosis: A delayed diagnosis occurs when a medical condition is not diagnosed in a timely manner, resulting in a worsened condition or even death. An example of a delayed diagnosis is when a patient presents with symptoms of cancer, but the doctor fails to order the necessary tests to diagnose the cancer. As a result, the cancer progresses and becomes more difficult or impossible to treat.

What Do You Need to Prove in a Misdiagnosis Case?

Like with other types of personal injury cases, proving a misdiagnosis case is in the hands of the plaintiff and their attorney.

To prove a misdiagnosis case, the following must be established:

• There was a doctor-patient relationship between you and the defendant
• The medical professional failed to adhere to the expected standard of care when treating the patient
• This negligence in care led to a misdiagnosis (or another type of diagnostic error)
• The diagnostic error caused an actual injury or illness that burdened the patient and their family with increased medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering or other damages

In essence, as a patient attempting to prove your misdiagnosis case, you’ll need to show that a medical professional practicing the same specialty would not have misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose you. This is why misdiagnosis and other types of medical malpractice cases frequently rely on expert testimony, which is something a personal injury lawyer can obtain when helping you build your case.