When you visit your doctor or hospital, you hope that they can figure out what’s wrong. Typically, patients have no way of knowing whether the appropriate tests are being ordered, and whether or not those tests are being interpreted correctly.
It happens a lot more often than you might think.
In a recent survey of patients who sought medical help in Massachusetts hospitals, approximately 60% described an error or delay in diagnosis. Of these errors and delays:
- 66% of events were related to an error in judgement, such as the failure to perform a simple diagnostic test.
- 33% of events were related to a breakdown in process, such as the failure of a lab to share results.
Often called “failure to diagnose”, this common form of medical malpractice could lead to large medical bills, loss of income, severe injuries, and worse. The same survey reported that 12% of medical errors resulted in the patient’s death.
Failure to Diagnose Cancer
Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is one of the keys to a successful outcome. According to estimates from the American Cancer Society, Massachusetts will see more than 36,000 new cases of cancer each year.
When a doctor fails to diagnose cancer, it can jeopardize the chance a patient has for remission. Misdiagnosis delays the proper care and may limit treatment options.
Because of the grave consequences, failure to diagnose cancer may be considered medical malpractice.
Hold Doctors Accountable
Although more than 60,000 errors were reported in Massachusetts hospitals in 2017, many more go unreported. When a patient’s diagnosis falls through the cracks, it’s important to hold the system accountable — otherwise the same preventable error could happen again to someone else.
When you file a medical malpractice lawsuit with Sokolove Law, you will be able to stand up to the biggest hospitals in Boston and Cambridge, MA and beyond. At Sokolove Law, we will not hesitate to speak up for individuals who have been hurt by institutions with a global reputation.
A missed diagnosis is not your fault, and coming forward may prevent another family from suffering. Contact us today for a free consultation of your legal rights.
