When Diagnosis Errors Lead To Harm

The process of diagnosing whatever happens to be wrong with a patient is critical to every aspect of that patient’s care moving forward. If a diagnosis is inaccurate, incomplete, or missed completely, that patient can suffer in ways that only time will tell. It is partially because diagnostic accuracy is so critical to patient care that diagnostic errors can prove to be so catastrophic.

If you either believe or know that you have suffered as a result of a diagnostic error or delay, know that you are not alone. Medical errors are widely believed to be the third leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease and cancer alone. While the number of non-fatal medical errors that occur on an annual basis is not understood precisely, the rate at which they occur is largely understood to be truly staggering.

When to Seek Legal Help

As an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Oregon at Andersen Morse & Linthorst can confirm, patients shy away from seeking legal assistance all too often. This is understandable, as most of the time it can be very difficult to know with any certainty whether a patient’s harm has resulted directly from a diagnostic error. Even if a patient is sure that their diagnosis was initially missed, incomplete, or delayed, they may be under the impression that there is nothing to be done about a misstep made by a physician, technician, or facility in the past.

In truth, it is critically important to seek legal guidance if you believe that you have suffered as a result of a diagnostic error or delay, even if you are unsure of weather your situation gives you strong grounds upon which to file legal action. Why is it so important to seek help under these circumstances? You may be entitled to significant compensation as a result of the harm that you have suffered. While no amount of money can make up for such suffering, rightful compensation can help to ensure that you can continue receive medical care in ways that do not burden your family’s finances. Additionally, by holding those responsible for your harm accountable for their actions or inactions, you may be able to help prevent similar errors or delays from impacting the lives of other patients in the future. For error rates to go down, accountability measures need to be strengthened and you can be part of that change.