The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Misdiagnosis is one of the most common medical errors leading to fatal complications. Although we would like to trust our doctor's skill in any diagnosis, with more than 200,000 people killed every year by medical errors, it’s important to be alert to signs that you may have received a misdiagnosis.

Here are things to look for:

•    Prescribed treatment doesn't help. This is the first sign that you should begin researching your condition and consider looking for a second opinion.

•    Your diagnosis doesn't match symptoms. When researching symptoms online, make sure you're using reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic. If your diagnosis is associated with symptoms that differ what you experienced, you may have been misdiagnosed.

•    Your diagnosis is based on one lab test. Lab tests are essential to a diagnosis, but they are also often sources of error. If there's no corroborating evidence for the diagnosis, suspect misdiagnosis.

•    Your diagnosis is based on tests you never got. How can this happen, you may ask. It does. Other people's test results may be misfiled and associated with you. Other times, doctors just get confused and think you are somebody else.

•    Your doctor didn't pay attention to symptoms you reported. Doctors are supposed to listen, but they often have little time to pay attention to your description of symptoms. They are skipping ahead and making assumptions so they can quickly finish up with you and get on to the next patient.

Misdiagnosis leads to unnecessary treatment, but it can also mean that the actual condition you have has not been diagnosed and is not being treated. If some or all of the above points describes your situation, it's time to get a second opinion.

And if misdiagnosis has led to additional injuries, you should talk to a lawyer about compensation with a medical malpractice lawsuit.

For a free consultation about your rights and legal options after a misdiagnosis, please contact The Cochran Firm today.