The Dangers of Misdiagnosis

Although claims of medical negligence have been on the rise over the last decade, the true scope of the problem is only now becoming clear. Misdiagnosis in particular, has proven to occur at an alarming rate, with one recent study revealing that as many as 80,000 people die every year in U.S. hospitals due to misdiagnosis. While it is possible to hold medical providers, including physicians, surgeons, nurses, and hospitals accountable for their injury-causing negligence, doing so can be difficult, especially for those who are struggling with a serious illness, so if you or a loved one were the victim of misdiagnosis or another form of medical negligence, it is important to speak with an experienced Iowa medical malpractice attorney who can explain your legal options. 

What is Misdiagnosis?

Medical malpractice claims are based on allegations of medical negligence by healthcare providers. The forms that these negligent actions can take are wide ranging and include everything from surgical errors to a failure to treat. One of the most common forms of medical negligence, however, is misdiagnosis, which includes cases of wrong diagnoses, delayed diagnoses, missed diagnoses, or even a failure to recognize complications that could aggravate or change an existing medical condition. It’s important to note that misdiagnosing a patient does not, in and of itself, constitute medical malpractice. Instead, a claim will only be actionable if the misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose resulted in improper medical care, no treatment, or delayed treatment, which in turn led to the worsening of the patient’s medical condition. 

Misdiagnosis Statistics

Misdiagnosis has proven to occur much more often than most people realize. One recent study, for example, published by the Official Journal of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) revealed that as many as 80,000 people die every year in hospitals because of diagnostic errors. Nearly half of those tragic deaths were attributed to only 15 specific diseases, of which the most commonly misdiagnosed were cancer, infections, and vascular disease. Further analysis revealed that:

• As many as 34 percent of medical malpractice claims involve delayed or inaccurate diagnoses;

• Around 65 percent of diagnosis-related medical malpractice claims resulted in death or permanent disability for patients; and

• An estimated 28 percent of all medical malpractice claim payouts involved allegations of diagnosis errors. 

These alarming numbers have been confirmed by a variety of different researchers. In one study, published in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety, for instance, researchers found that as many as 12 million patients are misdiagnosed every year in the U.S. 

Which Conditions are Most Likely to be Misdiagnosed?

The recently published study also revealed that cancer is the most commonly misdiagnosed disease, with cancer-related diagnosis errors making up 38 percent of all misdiagnosis cases. Lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer topped the list for the most commonly misdiagnosed types of cancer. Vascular diseases were the next most misdiagnosed condition, making up 23 percent of medical malpractice cases. Of these conditions, stroke, heart attack, and blood clots were misdiagnosed most often. Infections, particularly sepsis, meningitis, and encephalitis, were the third most commonly misdiagnosed medical condition, representing 13 percent of all cases. 

Misdiagnosis Causes

While misdiagnosis errors can occur at any time in the treatment process, recent research indicates that emergency room misdiagnoses account for nearly half of all medical malpractice claims. Specifically, most allegations against primary care providers involved claims of:

• Inadequate patient assessment, including failing to complete a thorough family history or to conduct an exhaustive physical examination;

• A failure to order diagnostic tests; 

• A failure to refer patients to specialists or to conduct follow-up examinations; and

• A failure to recognize symptoms, signs, and test results.  

Tragically, these mistakes often prove deadly for many patients, as an accurate and timely diagnosis can make all the difference when selecting a treatment therapy and monitoring a medical condition. Fortunately, patients who can provide evidence of this type of negligence could be entitled to damages compensating them for injury-related losses, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disability. 

This is only possible, however, for plaintiffs who comply with certain legal procedures and rules. In Iowa, for example, claimants who file medical malpractice claims must do so within two years of their injury or risk having their claim barred by the court. There are a few exceptions to this general rule, so if you have questions about filing a medical malpractice claim, please contact our legal team for assistance. 

Contact Our Office by Phone or Online Message

If you or a loved one suffered an injury because you were misdiagnosed by a healthcare provider, please call 712-325-9000 and a member of our legal team will help you schedule an initial case review with one of the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP today.

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About the Author:

Walter Thomas