One of the errors that can be made by a doctor when treating a patient
is a diagnosis mistake. This is a serious problem as patients are expecting
their medical professional to inform them of their illness or condition.
Patients go into hospitals when they are hurt or dealing with a condition.
If they are not diagnosed correctly, it can result in them receiving the
wrong type of treatment or never healing. There are some common reasons
doctors make diagnosis mistakes, including the following.
Ordering Incorrect Tests
In some cases, the doctor may order incorrect tests based on their diagnosis
of the condition that the patient has. They may run imaging tests when
a blood test is needed, or they can request an EKG when the patient’s
problem calls for an ultrasound. This often happens due to the doctor’s
negligence and prevents the patient from receiving proper treatment.
Errors In Performing Tests
If tests are performed incorrectly — such as performing an ultrasound
on the wrong body part or using a CAT scan incorrectly — it can
alter the results of the tests. This means that the doctor may determine
that there is nothing wrong with the patient despite their being a dangerous
condition.
Miscommunication Problems
The doctor and the laboratory must have proper communication regarding
what tests to run and for which patient. If something gets mixed up and
the doctor receive the wrong results for his or her patient, they may
prescribe an unnecessary treatment option that can do more harm than good.
Inexperience
In a situation where a doctor is inexperienced, there are certain conditions
they may not know about or they are unable to diagnose correctly. There
are numerous conditions that share similar symptoms, so there are some
situations in which the diagnosis may be incorrect, resulting in the wrong
treatment being given to the patient.
If a patient fails to receive the correct treatment, it can harm the patient
in multiple ways. In some cases, it can impact the patient due to a reaction
to medication, or surgery may be performed when it’s not needed.
In other situations, the patient will not receive the treatment they need,
allowing the condition to worsen and causing permanent damage.
Our
Houston medical malpractice attorneys at Hampton & King stand up for those who have been wrongfully harmed
due to a medical professional’s negligence. We work hard to help
our clients seek the maximum compensation to which they are entitled so
they can focus on their recovery instead of the complex legal process.
Schedule your free consultation with our team by using our contact form
or by calling us today.