Failure to Diagnose - Malpractice cases in Georgia

Failure to Diagnose is a form of Medical Malpractice in Georgia

Diagnosis is the foundation of medicine. There can be no effective treatment or even palliative care without an accurate diagnosis of the condition ailing the patient. That’s why misdiagnosis cases are so very dangerous.

By itself, a misdiagnosis is not negligence. You must compare the doctor’s conduct to those of a reasonable professional to assess whether or not they were competent. According to Georgia law, any lawsuit alleging medical negligence must be accompanied by an affidavit from an expert who is knowledgeable in the medical provider’s profession.

Our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers frequently handle cases that could have ended with a healthy, happy patient if the initial diagnosis had been accurate. Any treatment, no matter how technologically advanced and skillfully applied, is worthless if the condition it attempts to treat is not present.

If you reside in the Atlanta, Georgia area and you need the help of an experienced medical malpractice lawyer, please contact Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC online or by calling 404-760-7400 for a free consultation. We serve all of Georgia.

CONDITIONS WHERE A DOCTOR’S MISDIAGNOSIS CAN HAPPEN

A misdiagnosis is frequently caused by human mistakes, communication breakdowns, and language limitations. When you visit your doctor or hospital, you expect them to take your condition seriously. You have a right to be listened to, treated as a potential patient, and speak with a reasonable healthcare provider.

However, many patients, especially women, can find themselves ignored, condescended to, or outright accused of lying. Even when medical professionals attempt to diagnose a patient’s symptoms, they often make mistakes that prevent them from discovering the truth of someone’s medical condition.

Our medical malpractice lawyers have helped patients who suffered from undiagnosed:

• Cancer – Failure to diagnose cancer may be the responsibility of the general physician who is first presented with symptoms or it may be the fault of diagnostic errors from a laboratory technician who fails to interpret or communicate the results of an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI
• Heart attacks – Upon detailed investigation of your accident, we may learn that you did not get an EKG as you should have or your doctor did not check the level of your cardiac enzymes, or you did not receive the catheterization or stent placement that might have been able to prevent or mitigate the damage caused by your heart attack.
• Brain Abscess – With correct treatment and care, a brain abscess can be brought under control with no lasting harm done. Treatment will probably involve aspiration of the fluid in the abscess with a long needle, followed by antifungal or antibiotics or antifungal drugs, and perhaps steroids or diuretics.
• Compartment Syndrome – You could have recovered most of your normal functions with timely diagnosis and treatment. However, misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose and treat compartment syndrome on time can result in lasting damage up to and including paralysis, amputation, or death.
• Meningitis – Meningitis, like stroke or heart attack, can often be beat through appropriate and prompt intervention. People reporting to emergency rooms with vomiting, severe headache, high fever, and other symptoms of meningitis should be screened and triaged promptly.
• Postoperative infection – A post-operative infection is not complicated to treat in most cases if it is caught in time. If you became ill after surgery and after your doctor ignored your symptoms of infection such as fever, redness, and pain you may have a claim for medical malpractice.

Other conditions that may be misdiagnosed or ignored completely include:

• Appendicitis
• Lyme disease
• Strokes
• Pulmonary embolisms
• Epidural abscess including cervical abscess and spinal abscess

Many of these conditions are fatal if left untreated. In many cases, you may even discover the condition later, when it is too late for early treatment to be of any use. When this happens to you, our team or Georgia medical malpractice attorneys are prepared to take your case as far as needed to help ensure you are provided every penny you are due.

COMPENSATION YOU CAN RECOVER WHEN DOCTORS MISDIAGNOSE PATIENTS

Diagnosis can be tricky, but doctors and other medical professionals are still expected to adhere to strict standards of care when diagnosing a patient. Failure to do so is medical malpractice and entitles the victim to compensation well beyond the insignificant offerings of insurance companies. Future treatment expenses, lost wages, and medical bills can all be considered forms of compensation for misdiagnosis.

Patients who suffer economic damages as a result of a misdiagnosis may be eligible for reimbursement. In addition, patients have the right to compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering brought on by a false diagnosis. The law allows for the claim of damages for psychological distress brought on by a misdiagnosis.

Because of the impact of a misdiagnosis, spouses of affected individuals may claim loss of consortium.

GEORGIA LAW FOR THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MISDIAGNOSIS CASES

Because doctors are overwhelmed and may not use all available resources, misdiagnosis happens often. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against a careless physician can enhance patient safety by reducing misdiagnoses. According to Georgia law, a misdiagnosis lawsuit must be filed within two years of the misdiagnosed date.

The patient has up to five years to file if they learn of the misdiagnosis later on down the road. Medical misdiagnosis lawyers can help answer any questions that you may have concerning your case.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP WITH YOUR DELAYED DIAGNOSIS INJURY

An expert witness who can examine the steps or inactions your doctor took to arrive at your diagnosis is necessary to prove malpractice. The collection of facts and expert testimony can be aided by attorneys who specialize in misdiagnosis cases. Medical malpractice cases are incredibly complicated.

Finding an attorney with the skill and experience to properly evaluate your claim and make a compelling argument that a diagnosis was missed can seem difficult. Our Atlanta misdiagnosis lawyers have decades of experience with these cases. We understand the standards of care for diagnosing serious conditions and we know what it looks like when a doctor violates these standards.

When this happens to you, we are here to help your family hold all negligent parties accountable and get the justice you deserve.

GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TRUSTED GEORGIA WRONG DIAGNOSIS LAWYERS

When doctors misdiagnose patients, it can lead to serious injuries that require patients to file medical malpractice claims. Did you or a loved one suffer an injury in Georgia due to a medical misdiagnosis error? Our law firm is here to help with proving the negligence of healthcare providers.

If you’re a Columbus, Decatur, Atlanta, or anywhere in the state of Georgia and you’ve been hurt by a misdiagnosis, our Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers want to talk to you. Please call us at 404-760-7400 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your rights.

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