Consistent pain and other problems could indicate that you may have a medical issue that may require medication or some type of treatment. When you think something is wrong, you probably call your New Mexico doctor and make an appointment to see him or her as soon as possible. When you do this, you trust that you will get the right diagnosis and the specific type of treatment you need.
Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Doctors sometimes make mistakes, and they may miss certain signs that indicate that you have a specific illness or medical condition. Misdiagnosis can lead to a progression of your illness, which can lead to long-term harm, additional pain and prolonged suffering. In some cases, misdiagnosis is medical malpractice, which could be grounds for a civil claim.
Commonly missed diagnoses
The practice of medicine is not error-proof. There is a difference between an unfortunate yet unexpected outcome and a preventable medical error. In cases involving misdiagnosis, the mistake is a result of rushing through time spent with the patient, ignoring patient concerns, failing to order certain types of tests and misinterpreting test results. This is more common with certain types of illnesses, including the following commonly misdiagnosed conditions:
- Lupus – Doctors often mistake this medical condition for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. A full blood count test is necessary for diagnosis.
- Fibromyalgia – Doctors often misunderstand this type of illness, mistaking it for chronic fatigue or failing to recognize it as a medical condition at all. Doctors have to listen carefully to a patient’s symptoms in order to properly diagnose this.
- Lyme disease – Doctors may mistake Lyme disease for the flu, mononucleosis or even depression. It takes a two-step test of antibodies to get an accurate diagnosis.
These are only a few examples of the many different types of medical conditions that doctors commonly misdiagnose. If you believe your pain and suffering is a result of a doctor failing to run the right tests or listen to your concerns, you may have grounds for a civil claim.
Moving forward with a claim
You may not be sure that what you experienced counts as medical malpractice or not. An evaluation of your case by an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand what legal options may be available to you. With the right support and guidance, it may be possible to hold liable parties accountable for a missed or delayed medical diagnosis.
