Minnesota Delayed Diagnosis Lawyer
Patients who are suffering from a very serious condition need a diagnosis as quickly as possible so they can start receiving treatment. Even the smallest delay can cause a condition to advance and become much worse. In the most tragic of cases, a patient may even lose their life due to a delayed diagnosis. If you or someone you love has suffered harm as a result of a delayed diagnosis, you may be able to file a claim against the liable party. These cases are incredibly complex. A Minnesota delayed diagnosis lawyer can help you through the process so you obtain the full settlement you deserve.
Conditions that Commonly have Delayed Diagnosis
Any time a doctor does not provide the highest standard of care, it can result in a delayed diagnosis. Still, there are some conditions that are more likely to have a delayed diagnosis than others. These are as follows:
- Infections
- Pulmonary embolism
- Meningitis
- Colon cancer
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Stroke
- Heart attack
It is important to determine why a diagnosis was delayed. Although some diagnoses are delayed due to medical malpractice, others are not.
Causes of a Delayed Diagnosis
A delayed diagnosis is often a result of negligence on the part of doctors and other healthcare professionals. This negligence takes many forms but the most common are as follows:
- Failure to admit a patient into the hospital, sending them home after they visit an emergency room instead
- Failure to treat
- Failure to order and perform diagnostic tests
- Failure to listen to the patient’s complaints
- Failure to follow the accepted standards of diagnosing and treatment
When is a Delayed Diagnosis Considered Medical Malpractice?
Not every case of a delayed diagnosis is a case of medical malpractice. Doctors often have to use trial and error when diagnosing a condition. They may take several tests that come back normal. They may then order x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds that then show images of a tumor that aids with the proper diagnosis. In this case, the doctor is not necessarily liable for medical malpractice.
To determine if a doctor is at fault for a delayed diagnosis, a Minnesota medical malpractice lawyer will first conduct an investigation. During that investigation, they will determine if the doctor acted with the highest standard of care. One part of this investigation will involve obtaining a certificate of merit.
A certificate of merit is a statement from another doctor who specializes in the same field as the defendant. The statement must say that the doctor who diagnosed the condition did not act with the highest standard of care, and that another physician would have acted differently in the same situation.
Call Our Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Minnesota Today
If you or a loved one has suffered unnecessary harm due to a delayed diagnosis, our Minnesota medical malpractice lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, are here to help. We will conduct a full investigation to determine if medical malpractice occurred and who is liable for paying damages. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.