Misdiagnosing and Failing to Diagnose Properly Can Lead to Death
The United States military is known for excellence and efficiency in all its endeavors. Just as the people of our country trust service members, those service members trust the military doctors and nurses in charge of their medical care. The high level of competence we expect, however, is not always delivered in military clinics, hospitals, or medical centers. Such negligence or malpractice can result in misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose an illness, and therefore yield substandard care or a complete lack of treatment.
Diagnosis errors are medical malpractice and negligence
A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor inaccurately determines a patient’s affliction, followed by a treatment plan or prescription based on that misdiagnosis. A failure to diagnose is when a doctor completely misses the actual cause of a patient’s symptoms or discomfort. In either case, the results can be gravely harmful and cause lasting effects, such as paralysis, loss of motor function, and even death.
Commonly misdiagnosed or undiagnosed medical conditions may involve:
- Types of cancers
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Paralysis
- Infections
- MRSA
- Meningitis
- Blockages in veins, arteries
- Intestinal blockages
- Metabolic disorders
- Fetal distress
Although not all instances of misdiagnosis and a failure to diagnose constitute a malpractice claim, every instance that causes significant harm is worth discussing with a qualified medical negligence lawyer.
Misdiagnosis of military personnel
Patients who suffer from a diagnosis error or other medical malpractice event can hire a California personal injury lawyer to file their case in civil court. Those who have served in the armed forces and seek help from a military medical center, hospital, clinic or VA facility must follow a different process to win compensation.
An experienced California medical malpractice attorney can help service members and families file claims against the government to recoup damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). An attorney can also help veterans file for or update their benefits under Title 38 Section 1151 to obtain benefits for added or worsening disability conditions.
Diagnosis errors can be caused by the following:
- Doctor failed to consider the missed diagnosis
- Failure to properly test for illness/injury
- Did not recognize urgency of condition
- Flawed equipment
- Faulty lab tests
- False or inadequate records or reporting
- Emergency room pressure
- Unusual illnesses overlooked for more common illnesses
In the case of misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose, a medical malpractice attorney must also prove that the patient’s condition worsened because of improper or inadequate diagnosis.
Poor diagnoses should not be your financial burden
The United States military is known for its quick, swift, effective actions, and the same expectation holds for treatment in a military medical center, clinic or hospital. Diagnosis errors can have dangerous, long-term and fatal consequences, but the Bertling Law Group in on your side. Serving national service members and families in California and nationwide, our attorney works to win compensation for your family in medical negligence cases involving misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. Contact us online or by calling 844-295-7558 today for a free, no obligation consultation.
