Pittsburgh Failure to Treat Lawyer

Common Forms of Failure to Treat

Failure to treat can occur in various ways, depending on the healthcare setting, the patient’s condition, and the decisions made by the medical provider. Some of the most common examples include:

Delayed Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis

When a provider fails to identify a condition in time—or at all—it can prevent the patient from receiving life-saving or condition-managing treatment.

Ignoring Symptoms or Complaints

Sometimes, healthcare professionals disregard a patient’s symptoms or assume they are exaggerating, particularly in ER or urgent care settings. This lack of attention can delay necessary treatment.

Premature Discharge

Releasing a patient from a hospital or emergency department too early, without addressing or stabilizing their condition, may be considered a failure to treat.

Inadequate Follow-Up Care

Once treatment begins, doctors must monitor the patient’s progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly. Neglecting follow-up appointments or post-treatment monitoring can result in worsened conditions.

Failure to Refer

If a general practitioner fails to refer a patient to a specialist when a condition requires specific expertise, they may be liable for any harm caused by the delay.

Treatment Denial Based on Non-Medical Reasons

In some tragic cases, care may be withheld due to bias, insurance issues, or administrative hurdles. These failures often lead to preventable complications or death.

What Happens If a Patient Isn’t Properly Treated?

When a patient doesn’t receive appropriate care, the consequences can be severe:

• Worsening of the original condition
• Permanent injury or disability
• Emotional and psychological trauma
• Financial burden from additional treatments
• Wrongful death in extreme cases

Proving Failure to Treat in a Medical Malpractice Case

Medical malpractice cases, especially those involving failure to treat, can be complex. To prove your claim, we must demonstrate:

1. A provider-patient relationship existed – This establishes that the healthcare provider owed you a duty of care.
2. Negligence occurred – We must show that the provider failed to act as a competent provider would under similar circumstances.
3. The failure caused harm – There must be a direct link between the failure to treat and your injury or worsened condition.
4. You suffered damages – This includes physical, emotional, and financial harm resulting from the provider’s actions or inaction.

Our legal team at Friday & Cox has the resources and experience to navigate these complex issues. From gathering evidence to consulting with expert witnesses, we’ll fight to protect your rights every step of the way.