Life expectancy for the average American life has reached 77.9 years in recent studies, indicating an increase in the general health conditions of the country. Compared to other regions, Connecticut has the 6th highest number of active physicians per 10,000 civilian populations in the United States. These statistics indicate the growing level of health across the country and particularly in the state of Connecticut.
While many studies point to the improvement of health care, unfortunately, there are still a frightening number of medical diagnosing errors occurring each and every year in the U.S. Active physicians in Connecticut are often quite literally responsible for the lives of hundreds of patients every day. While these professionals certainly take this responsibility seriously, human error sometimes causes an inaccuracy of diagnosis.
When a patient goes to see a doctor for treatment of an ailment, sickness or illness of some kind, they are putting their trust in the hands of the physician. Patients are put at ease with the comfort of knowing that doctors are professionals with the adequate experience necessary to make the right decisions. Unfortunately, however, patients are sometimes shocked to discover that their doctor’s plan of action was not the most advantageous means of healing their particular medical issue.
Diagnosing errors have triggered thousands of medical malpractice lawsuits each and every year in the United States. When errors are made in any phase of a patient’s treatment plan, medical professionals and the hospitals at which they work are commonly held liable for the damages that they cause to their patients. If you or a loved one has suffered due to any diagnosing errors, our malpractice lawyers in Connecticut are prepared to take on your case today.
To learn more, complete a Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers free case evaluation on this page.
There Are Several Types Of Diagnostic Errors
Connecticut residents trust that when they visit a hospital they will be taken care of in the most optimal manner possible. Some of the biggest hospitals in Connecticut include Bridgeport Hospital, Danbury Hospital, Hartford Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Stamford Hospital, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Yale-New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus. Attendees of these hospitals are reliant on the professional knowledge and experience that Connecticut physicians have to offer.
Unfortunately, approximately 40,000 to 80,000 deaths occur each year in U.S. hospitals due to misdiagnosis. Even worse, many of these diagnosing errors go unreported, unrecognized and undocumented. Victims of diagnosing errors, however, are typically entitled to compensation if a diagnosing mistake occurs.
Some of the most common types of diagnosing errors include but are not limited to:
- Failure to order a biopsy
- Delay or failure to diagnose cancer
- Failing to properly interpret test results
- Failure to monitor patient progression in regard to changes of misdiagnosed disease
- Failure to order lab or medical tests
- Failure to refer a patient to a specialist
- Medication errors
- Failing to adequately analyze lab results
- Complete misinterpretation of tests
While these are some of the most frequently seen diagnosing errors, medical malpractice and negligence relates to thousands of different health-related miscalculations. When an error occurs that negatively affects a victim’s health, malpractice lawyers in Connecticut are essential to successfully navigating the litigation process and achieving the compensation in these victims deserve.
Avoiding Medical Malpractice Mistakes
When residents of Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport visit the doctor, they expect to be taken care of properly. Nevertheless, negligence, human error and inefficient practices can cause regular hospital practices to become nonfunctional. Some of these diagnosing errors are unavoidable, as patients are not expected to have the health care knowledge to recognize mistakes. However, there are a few steps that hospital and emergency room patients can keep in mind in order to limit the possibility of an error to the best of their ability.
The following are some tips to avoid medical malpractice errors:
- Select a doctor who is both compassionate and knowledgeable
- Be an active listener and participant in your health plan
- Be sure to explain every single related fact in regard to your health issues
- Bring a friend or family member to appoints, four ears are better than two ears
- Adhere to the doctor’s orders carefully, do not create your own medical plan
- Always schedule a follow-up appointment
- When in doubt, get a second opinion from another physician
Diagnosing errors, especially in regard to complex illnesses, can be incredibly difficult to detect. However, keeping the above tips in mind will place patients in a better position to avoid the negative health effects of medical malpractice and negligence. If you or a loved one has suffered from diagnosing errors, malpractice lawyers in Connecticut are dedicated to fighting for your rights.
The Failure To Diagnose Cancer Is Inexcusable
Nearly as important as cancer prevention, the American Cancer Society (ACS) strongly supports efforts for early detection. When cancer is detected early, it is more treatable, with a reduced chance of recurrence and a much higher chance of survival.
A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can lead to disaster. Failure to properly diagnose cancer is a form of medical malpractice. If a physician failed to diagnose cancer in you or a loved one, you may be entitled to recover damages.
The Benefits Of Early Detection
Many cancer treatments are most effective before the disease spreads throughout the body. If a doctor fails to detect symptoms or recognize complaints that would lead a reasonable physician in the same position to test for and diagnose cancer, the patient may be deprived of treatment options that could lead to recovery.
Given the progressive nature of most types of cancers, the earlier the disease is detected, the sooner treatment can begin. The impact of prompt treatment can significantly affect the patient’s ability to survive the disease.
What Causes Misdiagnosis?
Failure to diagnose cancer is often a sign of a physician’s negligence. Some examples of negligence often resulting in either late or complete misdiagnoses of cancer include:
- Failure to evaluate and test abnormal skin growths
- Failure to detect elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA)
- Failure to order mammograms when suspicious lumps are present
Sometimes, a physician may suspect cancer. When this happens, he or she should consult with radiologists, pathologists and other experts. Radiologists, pathologists and diagnostic laboratories may also be negligent by:
- Failing to correctly interpret tissue samples showing cancerous cells
- Failing to properly interpret images showing cancerous masses
Get Answers And Help Without Delay If Your Doctor Failed To Diagnose Cancer
We offer free case evaluations for anyone who believes they may have cause to file a lawsuit. Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means there is never any cost to you until we obtain a favorable outcome for your claim.
Call 800-PERKINS or send an online inquiry to schedule a consultation. During your evaluation, a member of our team of legal professionals will discuss with you the merits of your claim and guide you on the best course of action in pursuing legal remedies for your losses.