Potential misdiagnosis from blood pressure readings

On Behalf of | Jun 29, 2021 | Albuquerque Medical Malpractice Law Blog, Blog

Blood pressure readings for children and preteens should be taken from both arms. This conclusion comes after emerging research that involves significant differences in blood pressure depending on the arm used for the reading. If you live in New Mexico and suspect that your child has been a victim of medical malpractice due to an incorrect diagnosis based on blood pressure, here are some important things you should know.

More on the blood pressure study

The study was led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and published in the Journal of Hypertension. The results revealed that even minor differences in blood pressure measurements between arms could lead to an incorrect diagnosis. The lead study author asserts that this was the initial worldwide study assessing the frequency and size of inter-arm blood pressure differences in adolescents and small children. If young patients are not properly diagnosed after a blood pressure reading, this might lead to a medical malpractice case.

Study participants

The study involved children between the ages of 7and 18, and 118 children participated in total. The research asserts that in healthy children, one in four had a difference in blood pressure readings between arms. When a doctor sees an incorrect reading, they might prescribe the child a certain medication that is not appropriate for the child’s health needs. The difference between normal blood pressure and hypertension is small in children, which makes the chances of medical malpractice higher.

It’s important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible if you or a family member has received an incorrect blood pressure diagnosis. It may be possible to hold a doctor or medical facility responsible for the harm you suffered as a result of the misdiagnosis.

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