Doctors have an obligation to provide competent care to each of their patients. Unfortunately, some doctors may miss critical symptoms. This negligence can lead to a delayed diagnosis. In other cases, doctors may provide an incorrect diagnosis, recommending treatment for a condition that a patient does not actually have. If your doctor has delayed diagnosis or misidentified your condition, you may be a victim of medical malpractice. Of course, the medical field is extremely complex. Therefore, not every faulty diagnosis is grounds for a lawsuit. You will need an experienced attorney, such as Larry Buckley, to determine whether you have a viable case and represent you in court, if necessary. To learn more about medical malpractice cases involving misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose, contact our Sacramento practice today.
What Is Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose?
Diagnostic errors are the most common type of medical malpractice lawsuit. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, they make up 33 percent of all malpractice cases. Most people associate malpractice with physicians. However, nurses, therapists, and dentists can also be held legally responsible. Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose are grave mistakes that can have life-altering or even fatal consequences. Serious diseases require timely treatment. If a doctor fails to recognize these conditions, patients may require much more aggressive care. In tragic cases, patients may even lose their lives.
Financial compensation can help cover the cost of additional medical bills, lost wages, and therapy, among other things. Additionally, a successful malpractice suit will help to protect other innocent patients in the future.
Do You Have a Case?
To have a viable malpractice case, you must meet several criteria:
- There must be an established patient-physician relationship. For example, a doctor is not legally responsible if you simply asked him or her for advice outside of a scheduled appointment.
- The doctor did not provide treatment according to the reasonable standard of care. You may have a case if your physician did not run a full battery of routine tests or used faulty equipment. Your doctor may also be guilty of negligence if he or she did not recognize common symptoms.
- You actually suffered harm because of your doctor’s error.
Attorney Buckley Can Help
Medicine is an extremely complex field. Many conditions can present similar symptoms. Even the most experienced doctors can make reasonable mistakes from time to time. Nevertheless, if you are a victim of malpractice, Attorney Larry S. Buckley will fight for the justice you deserve. He works with some of the nation’s top medical experts. These specialists can provide invaluable information about the standard of medical care, as well as the long-term effects of diagnostic errors. In addition, Attorney Buckley and his team are committed to your overall well being. We will make sure that you get the medical attention you require, even if you are unable to pay. In short, we will do everything possible to ensure your physical, financial, and emotional recovery.
Contact Us for a Case Evaluation
If you believe that you are the victim of misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose, contact the Office of Larry S. Buckley. We will investigate the details of your case and fight hard to obtain the compensation that you deserve.