Patients rely on doctors and other healthcare providers to properly diagnose and treat their illnesses and injuries, but misdiagnosis is not uncommon. When misdiagnosis is the result of negligence, medical professionals can be held liable for medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered a severe injury due to misdiagnosis, you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer on your side.
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, we regularly represent victims of misdiagnosis throughout North Mississippi. We understand the complexities of medical malpractice claims and will work tirelessly to protect your rights. When you work with us, your claim will be handled by a capable misdiagnosis attorney with a proven history of achieving substantial settlements and jury awards.
Our firm handles all medical malpractice claims on a contingency basis, so you will not pay any attorneys’ fees until we get compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Representing Victims of Misdiagnosis in North Mississippi
Doctors and medical professionals have a duty to provide a reasonable level of care when diagnosing patients. This includes ordering the appropriate tests and properly analyzing the results of those tests. Misdiagnosing a medical condition may result in the patient receiving improper treatment, the wrong medication, or even wrongful death.
Misdiagnosis can occur in several ways, such as
- Failure to diagnose – A doctor fails to diagnose a medical condition altogether
- Wrong diagnosis – A medical professional mistakes one condition for another (e.g. a heart attack for indigestion)
- Delayed diagnosis – A healthcare provider only diagnoses a medical condition after it has dangerously progressed
In addition, doctors may fail to identify complications, which can have catastrophic consequences.
When does misdiagnosis constitute medical malpractice?
To have a valid medical malpractice claim based on misdiagnosis, we must be able to establish that:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed at the time of the diagnostic mistake
- The doctor was negligent (failed to provide the expected standard of care)
- The doctor’s negligence caused your injury
- Your injury resulted in actual damages (e.g. medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering)
In other words, the misdiagnosis must have resulted in improper or delayed treatment or in no treatment at all, worsening your condition. While a doctor-patient relationship is generally established once a doctor examines and treats a patient, proving that a doctor was negligent requires showing that they failed to provide the appropriate standard of care. This is the level of care that a reasonably trained medical professional would have provided under the same circumstances. Examples of this type of negligence include:
- Failing to include a potential medical condition on the initial differential diagnosis list
- Misinterpreting test results, medical charts, or X-rays, resulting in a diagnostic error
- Failing to recognize the significance of the patient’s symptoms and delaying a diagnosis
Our medical malpractice lawyers have the skills and experience to prove the necessary elements of negligence and will work to hold your doctor liable for misdiagnosis.
Reasons for Misdiagnosis
In many cases, medical offices, clinics, and hospitals are short-staffed and doctors may not have time to give patients the individualized attention they need. But there are several reasons for misdiagnosis, including:
- Failure to order appropriate tests
- Rushing through exams
- Delayed scheduling for testing or regular appointments
- Poor tracking of test results
- Failing to follow up on abnormal findings
- Miscommunication between providers and labs
- Sloppy lab work
Regardless of the reason for the misdiagnosis that caused your condition to worsen, we are committed to protecting your rights and getting you just compensation.
Why Choose Us?
Once we determine that you have a viable medical malpractice lawsuit, we will handle all the details of your claim. Our misdiagnosis attorney will:
- Examine all medical reports regarding your case
- Interview any pertinent witnesses
- Identify all responsible parties
- Investigate the defendant’s history for any similar negligent diagnosis
- Enlist medical experts to testify on your behalf
Although physicians in Mississippi are not required to carry medical malpractice insurance, most hospitals require them to carry malpractice insurance prior to granting admitting privileges. This means your claim will likely be resolved through negotiations with an insurance company and opposing attorneys. Nonetheless, we prepare each case for trial to increase the likelihood of a favorable out-of-court settlement.
Damages We Will Fight to Win
While no two medical malpractice cases are the same, damages that you may be awarded in a misdiagnosis claim include:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitative costs
- Lost income – present and future
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Final medical costs, funeral costs, loss of financial and emotional support (in the case of wrongful death)
Trust our attorneys to make your cause our cause and see it through to a successful outcome.
At Chatham, Gilder Howell Pittman, we are not only relentless medical malpractice lawyers but also compassionate people who understand the suffering you have endured. We know how to hold medical professionals accountable for negligent misdiagnosis and will make sure you are treated fairly. Contact our office today to discuss your case in confidence.
Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman helps those who are victims of misdiagnosis throughout Northern Mississippi including the cities of Southaven and Hernando as well as the counties of DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica.
