When you go to a physician you have certain expectations. You expect him to answer your questions, listen to your concerns and take the time to explore remedies from every angle.
When a doctor’s mistake causes illness or injury, he could be liable for worsening your health problems – this is also known as medical malpractice. There are many types of doctor’s mistakes that are considered medical malpractice, such as prescribing an incorrect drug, misdiagnosing a symptom and failing to detect an underlying or associated, and possibly fatal, disease. When a doctor’s mistake causes your underlying or associated disease to be left untreated, you do have the option to seek compensation for your condition in a Chicago medical malpractice claim.
Overview of Underlying Diseases
An underlying disease is a disease or condition that may not be readily apparent, but is the actual cause of the symptoms that brought a patient to the physician.
An associated disease is a disease that commonly (or uncommonly) accompanies the patient’s main illness.
If a doctor’s mistake results in a failure to diagnose an underlying or associated disease, it can go untreated, worsen and have serious consequences for the patient.
While doctors are highly trained professionals, they can make mistakes like anyone else. Busy and rushed doctors may miss the signs of an underlying or associated illness.
Sometimes, ineffective doctor-patient communication is the culprit for a doctor’s mistake, or simple carelessness on the part of the physician. Whatever the reason for a doctor’s mistake, failure to diagnose an underlying or associated disease can have a negative impact on a patient’s life.
Medical care from your physician must always meet a certain standard. If you feel your doctor’s mistake resulted in a failure to diagnose an underlying or associated disease, you should contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.
A Chicago medical malpractice attorney will investigate your doctor’s mistake and determine if you have grounds for a Chicago medical malpractice claim. Then your Chicago medical malpractice attorney can assist you in filing the claim and can represent you to reach a settlement negotiation or courtroom verdict.
Having a caring, knowledgeable Chicago medical malpractice attorney on your side can make all the difference for you.
Physical and Mental Effects of a Failure to Diagnose
A doctor’s failure to diagnose an underlying or associated disease can cause a patient to suffer for much longer than necessary and can allow the disease to spread or worsen. While some illnesses are more difficult to diagnose than others, a doctor has a duty to pay the necessary attention to the patient’s symptoms and make an educated diagnosis.
People put themselves in the hands of their physicians and trust them to care for their health and well-being. Failure to diagnose an underlying or associated disease can affect not only a patient’s physical health, but their mental health as well. A patient who suffers illness or injury from a doctor’s mistake can lose trust in the medical establishment or develop chronic anxiety about their health.
What to do After a Failure to Diagnose in Chicago
If you’re a patient who has been given a diagnosis and you think it might be wrong, it can be helpful to seek a second opinion. You can do some research on your own, but don’t try to diagnose yourself. Victims of a failure to diagnose need the care of a licensed physician who can determine whether any underlying or associated diseases have been missed.
Be sure to get copies of your medical records. They will show the history of the medical care you received and can show at what point in your treatment there was a failure to diagnose.
In order to make sure you’re taking the right steps, you can seek the help of a Chicago medical malpractice attorney to determine whether you have a viable case. In addition, your Chicago medical malpractice attorney can compile your medical records and conduct an investigation so you can focus on recovery.
It is reasonable for patients to expect healthcare practitioners to display a certain amount of knowledge and professionalism, and when that is not shown, such as with a case of failure to diagnose, patients can hold their doctors liable in a Chicago medical malpractice claim.
With the help of a Chicago medical malpractice attorney, you can actually seek financial compensation for not just your physical injuries, but also the mental suffering you may have experienced as a result.
Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney
Medical malpractice can have serious and long-lasting effects on your life. You need someone who will listen, understand and give you valuable legal support. At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your case, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you for any injuries or loss you may have suffered as a result of a doctor’s error. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.
