The Dangers of Medical Test Errors In Kansas City
When a patient seeks medical attention, a doctor will typically ask about his or her symptoms and examine some parts of his or her body. Based on the doctor’s observations, he or she will order diagnostic tests to try and identify the correct condition. If a doctor fails to order the appropriate diagnostic test, he or she can cause severe harm to a patient.
For example, say that a 57-year-old patient visits a doctor with symptoms of a heart attack: chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. An electrocardiogram would help the physician identify and correctly diagnose the heart attack, but the doctor fails to order one. Instead, the doctor diagnoses the patient with anxiety and prescribes medication.
The patient leaves the appointment believing she has anxiety and takes the medication. The patient does not realize she is experiencing a life-threatening condition, which becomes progressively worse. At home, she collapses and is rushed to the hospital. After receiving emergency treatment for the heart attack, the patient learns that she sustained permanent brain damage due to oxygen loss.
If the first doctor had assessed the patient’s symptoms correctly and ordered an electrocardiogram, she would have received treatment sooner than she did. The patient may have avoided the lasting effects of brain damage if the doctor had ordered the right tests or if she had visited a different physician. Another doctor would have likely been able to identify these common symptoms and would have ordered an electrocardiogram to rule out the possibility of the heart attack.
Filing a Medical Misdiagnosis Lawsuit In Missouri
If you visited a doctor who failed to order medical tests and accurately diagnose your condition, you may qualify for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice claims provide injured patients with the opportunity to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable. If you experienced additional injury or worsening symptoms due to a medical misdiagnosis, you could recover compensation for losses like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
