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What are the 3 most common medical misdiagnoses?

On Behalf of | May 20, 2021 | Medical Malpractice

Prompt diagnosis is critical when you see a doctor. It increases the chance you can take medical action before the condition worsens or becomes past the point of treatment.

Doctors do not need to know everything. They need to use the resources available. There are over 10,000 diseases in the world, and it would be unrealistic to expect a medic to know them all. For this, they have the help of computer systems, textbooks and colleagues.

Yet, sometimes doctors do not make use of the resources available. They assume they know what is causing symptoms or make guesses without carrying out a full investigation. Sometimes this is due to ego; other times, it is due to laziness or haste to move onto the next patient.

Medical providers need to take action to catch diagnosis errors when they happen

Medical staff often work under extreme pressure, especially in emergency theaters. Yet this is not an adequate excuse. Medical organizations need to ensure the proper backup is in place to detect stress-induced errors before these mistakes harm the patient.

The majority of diagnosis errors relate to a limited range of illnesses. John Hopkins Armstrong Institute found almost 75% related to three things: cancer 37.8%, vascular events 22.8% and infections 13.5%. Unfortunately, the three key misdiagnosis areas can all prove fatal.

Proving a doctor misdiagnosed your condition and was guilty of medical negligence is challenging. You will need an experienced legal team to gather the necessary evidence for this type of case. Medical professionals will always make mistakes from time to time. Holding them to account is essential if they have caused you harm.