Misdiagnosis Lawyers in Pittsburgh

To prove medical misdiagnosis, one must show that a medical professional failed to diagnose or incorrectly diagnosed an illness, which resulted in harm to the patient. This is done by providing evidence that the medical professional did not meet the applicable standard of care. 

To demonstrate that a medical professional's actions were substandard, it is crucial to understand the accepted standard of care for particular conditions in the medical community. The standard of care is determined by how a reasonable and prudent doctor with the same training and experience would have handled the case under similar circumstances. 

When evaluating whether a doctor met this standard, courts consider factors such as: 

• How up to date was their training? 
• How quickly did they order tests? 
• How thoroughly did they interpret test results? 
• Did they refer patients for further evaluation when necessary? 

In addition to assessing whether or not the doctor met the accepted standard of care, plaintiffs must also show that a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose created an injury, delayed treatment for an injury or illness, or sufficiently exacerbated a current condition. This requires establishing a direct causal link between negligence and harm suffered. For example, if a plaintiff claims that being misdiagnosed delayed proper treatment, it is necessary to show how receiving an accurate diagnosis sooner would have changed or prevented the outcome. It is also essential to demonstrate how long treatment was delayed and provide evidence, such as medical records showing any changes in symptoms or further deterioration due to delayed treatment. Depending on the circumstances, expert testimony from other doctors may also be required. 

Lastly, one must prove damages resulting from misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose an illness. This includes documenting physical pain, suffering, and emotional distress caused by misdiagnosis and financial losses due to lost wages or additional medical costs resulting from late diagnosis or incorrect treatments. These elements must exist to make a successful medical malpractice claim for misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose an illness. Our Pittsburgh medical misdiagnosis lawyers will help you gather evidence and build a solid and compelling case. 

How Common Is Medical Misdiagnosis?

Medical misdiagnosis is common in the medical field, with an estimated 12 million people being misdiagnosed annually in the United States alone. This means that roughly one in every 20 adults will be a victim of a medical misdiagnosis within any given year.

Though there is no single cause for misdiagnoses, some mistakes can be attributed to inadequate training and education, poor communication between healthcare providers, and rushed assessments. Other potential risk factors include language barriers between doctors and patients and fatigue from long working hours. There are also many instances where technology can impede progress; for example, in cases where lab results have been lost or computer systems fail to integrate information correctly.