When a doctor doesn’t practice a standard level of care on their patients, then they may be committing medical malpractice. This can happen if a doctor makes a mistake during surgery or prescribes the wrong medication, for example.
Medical malpractice can start even before a patient undergoes treatments for their medical conditions. A patient may be a victim of misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis. Here’s what you should know about each:
Were you given the proper attention during a doctor’s visit?
A missed diagnosis can happen if a doctor fails to perform any kind of examination when a patient is seen. Missed diagnoses often happen to women. Many women have heard the words “it’s all in your head” and are never given the proper care they deserve. Women are historically not given the same treatment as men when seen by medical professionals.
Some reasons given by doctors for why they did not diagnose a patient is because the doctor did not believe a patient is suffering from the conditions that are presented. Or, a doctor may believe that a patient is only seeing them for certain addictive medications. When a patient is not given any kind of diagnosis and treatment, their medical condition can worsen, which can be fatal.
Did a doctor confuse the cause of your symptoms?
A lot of medical conditions have similar symptoms. This can make it harder for doctors to determine what kind of illness or injury a patient might be suffering from. To make a conclusive diagnosis, a patient may be required to undergo several rigorous tests. Once completed, a doctor should have some idea as to what a patient is experiencing and prescribe an appropriate treatment.
If a doctor confuses a medical condition, then they may have misdiagnosed a patient. This can happen if a doctor doesn’t have the proper training or prescribes the incorrect tests for a patient. As a result, a patient may undergo the wrong treatment while their medical condition goes untreated.
Victims of medical malpractice can seek compensation for their injuries, illnesses or losses. It’s important that victims understand their legal rights as they seek compensation.
