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Physicians and other licensed medical professionals help to treat injuries and illnesses. To establish the most effective treatment plan possible, medical professionals must first determine what causes the patient’s symptoms.
An accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective treatment in modern medicine. Unfortunately, many patients do not receive the diagnosis they need to access appropriate medical care. Instead, they may face either misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose their conditions.
Diagnostic errors are far more common than many people realize. They have become a serious health concern and one of the most common causes of premature mortality and severe injuries in the United States.
How common are diagnostic errors?
According to a review of nationwide data, roughly 795,000 patients every year become permanently disabled or die because doctors fail to properly diagnose them. The number of patients who deal with diagnostic errors in general is much higher, with some research showing as many as 12 million documented diagnostic errors annually.
Thousands of patients every day experience diagnostic errors that have permanent consequences. Those patients may then need support as they seek to hold doctors and hospitals accountable.
When are patients most vulnerable?
There are certain situations that may increase the risk of diagnostic errors. Seeking care at an emergency room or urgent care facility during times of high demand may increase the likelihood of medical professionals rushing through the diagnostic process and reaching the wrong conclusion.
Patients experiencing certain medical conditions are more vulnerable than others. Major medical events, such as strokes and heart attacks, present differently in men and women, leading to frequent diagnostic errors when women seek emergency medical care.
Cancer is also a commonly misdiagnosed medical condition. Early warning signs are similar to the symptoms of much less serious medical conditions. Delays in diagnosis can have profound implications. Doctors may also struggle to diagnose neurological conditions, autoimmune diseases, digestive issues and reproductive health conditions, such as endometriosis.
How can patients protect themselves?
Patients can reduce their risk of diagnostic errors by coming to appointments properly prepared. Establishing a thorough list of symptoms, including times and the severity of the symptoms, can be helpful. Patients also need to be ready to ask their doctors questions.
Those questions may include:
- Is there a test to validate this diagnosis?
- Are there other conditions that could cause these symptoms?
- Will my medical records reflect this conversation about my symptoms?
These key questions can prompt a doctor to think more carefully about the situation. They can also theoretically result in a patient’s records supporting their claim of malpractice later.
Patients who have experienced diagnostic errors may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Reviewing medical records and the impact of diagnostic errors with a skilled legal team can help people hold doctors and medical facilities accountable for misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose a patient resulting in harm.