Medical Negligence Based on Misdiagnosis, Delayed Diagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
Diagnostic errors in medicine can lead to catastrophic and, potentially, life-altering, or life-ending, consequences for the patient.

What is a misdiagnosis?
An incorrect diagnosis, or mistaken diagnosis, is what is commonly known as a misdiagnosis. The outcome from a misdiagnosis can range from minor injuries to severe and life-threatening injuries, and even death. A misdiagnosis can result in the wrong treatment, wrong drugs being prescribed or a treatment that worsens the patient’s condition.
Misdiagnoses occur when doctors fail to give patients their undivided attention creating a higher likelihood of potentially dangerous clinical signs being either ignored or misunderstood. Misdiagnoses can also occur because patients fail to disclose all of their symptoms. Many misdiagnoses affect the urgency with which laboratory testing is completed, potentially causing harmful effects for the patient. Misdiagnoses can also lead to the wrong drugs being prescribed, the wrong treatment, or a treatment that ends up further worsening the patient’s condition.
What is a delayed diagnosis?
A delayed diagnosis is when a gap occurs between diagnosis and treatment, causing complications or increasing the severity of a patient’s condition. A delayed diagnosis is, technically, correct but does not occur in a timely manner and can have adverse effects on the patient’s health. One of the most common reasons for delayed diagnoses is physician failure to take a complete patient history. Some delayed diagnoses have proven dangerous, and even deadly, including delayed diagnoses of heart attacks, infections and cancer.

What is a failure to diagnose?
A failure to diagnose means that the actual illness has been left untreated, which can also cause severe injury or even death. Failing to diagnose a related, or unrelated, disease can lead to serious injury, as well.
Contact opens in a new windowBruce Brusavich and opens in a new windowEduardo J. Ascencio if you think that you have been a victim of medical malpractice. Our team of zealous lawyers has nearly 70 years of combined experience to get you the help you deserve.