If you receive a delayed or improperly diagnosed medical condition, you may end up receiving delayed treatment or even the wrong treatment for your health concern. This often leads to prolonged suffering, preventable complications, and even irreversible harm. You may be able to pursue legal recourse and get compensation if a healthcare provider failed to recognize or address a medical issue in time, but you need a Southfield failure to diagnose lawyer who can evaluate the situation, determine the appropriate liability, and seek the maximum compensation you deserve.
Legal professionals experienced in medical malpractice understand the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll these situations can take on you and your family. To build a strong claim and advocate for your rights, work with our skilled medical malpractice attorneys as soon as possible to collect evidence and meet important filing deadlines.
What Is Failure to Diagnose?
There are many well-known hospitals and medical facilities in Southfield, including Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital and Staith Hospital Orthopedics. However, even at major healthcare facilities, a failure to diagnose can occur when a medical professional does not recognize a medical condition in a timely manner. This may involve:
- Misdiagnosing a condition as something less serious
- Delaying necessary tests or specialist referrals
- Ignoring or dismissing reported symptoms and misinterpreting lab results
Of course, not every missed diagnosis may result in a malpractice claim. The injured person and their legal team must show that the healthcare provider’s actions deviated from the accepted standard of care and timelines in order to pursue a successful legal claim. A Southfield attorney with experience in failure to diagnose cases can assess whether a medical provider’s negligence contributed to a preventable outcome.
Common Conditions Involved in Diagnostic Errors
Some medical conditions are especially vulnerable to diagnostic errors because they are complex or extremely urgent. For example:
- Cancer can be difficult to diagnose, and a delayed diagnosis may result in lost treatment opportunities and reduced survival rates
- Health conditions, such as heart attacks, can be mistaken for other health problems, such as indigestion or anxiety
- Autoimmune disorders like lupus or multiple sclerosis often have overlapping symptoms
Without proper assessment, these issues can go undiagnosed for long periods of time, and even for years.
Proving Medical Negligence
According to Michigan law, a medical malpractice claim must demonstrate that a doctor-patient relationship existed. The claim must also prove that the provider did not meet the standard of care expected by law and that this caused harm, and that the patient experienced measurable losses, including lost income or diminished quality of life. Additionally, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the negligent act or six months from the discovery of the misdiagnosis, which is why working with our attorneys in Southfield to take legal action within this time frame is critical.
A person must file an Affidavit of Merit when they initiate a malpractice claim. This document supports the validity of the case and confirms that a standard of care was breached, likely causing harm. This document is signed by a qualified medical expert and helps support the claim’s existence in the first place.
Call Our Southfield Failure to Diagnose Attorney for Help
Navigating the complexities of a medical malpractice claim is difficult on your own. Fortunately, a legal professional can offer a deeper understanding of both medical and legal systems. Our attorneys could investigate medical records, examine test results, consult with medical experts, and file the necessary legal documentation on your behalf.
If a healthcare provider failed to diagnose a condition, ultimately resulting in serious injury or loss, you have legal options. A knowledgeable, steadfast Southfield failure to diagnose lawyer could review the circumstances of your case and explain the next steps. Call (248) 654-8807 to consult with our lawyers today.