Misdiagnosis
A misdiagnosis is an incorrect diagnosis or a failure to diagnose a disease or medical condition. When misdiagnosis occurs, patients may suffer because they didn’t receive proper medical treatment that could either cure or relieve their condition. Standards of care set by the medical field hold doctors responsible for performing diagnosis and meeting a level of skill comparable to other doctors in their field. Professional standards may require doctors to perform certain laboratory tests or refer their patient to a specialist for more thorough examination. Failure to exercise acceptable professional judgment and correctly diagnose treatment in a timely manner may be grounds to bring lawsuit against medical misdiagnosis.
Diseases that are commonly misdiagnosed include but are not limited to:
- Heart attack
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Appendicitis
For legal advice or representation regarding misdiagnosis, please contact our office at 815-356-6900 to arrange a consultation.