Suffolk County Misdiagnosis Malpractice Lawyer

People rely on medical doctors to diagnose and treat pain. We also need them to help us make good choices for our well-being and ensure we can live life to the fullest. When a doctor makes a mistake, the effects can be catastrophic to our overall health, because we may not treat underlying issues, which may cause us to suffer more.

One of the most common errors a physician can make is a misdiagnosis. If you or someone you love has experienced misdiagnosis by your doctor, you may be entitled to compensation. As a Suffolk County misdiagnosis malpractice lawyer, we want you to understand your legal rights. Our failure to diagnose attorneys are ready to build your claim for compensation.

What Does Misdiagnosis Mean?

Misdiagnosis happens when a treating physician fails to perform adequate tests to diagnose and treat a patient. This can result in a delay in diagnosis or a wrong diagnosis.

It is essential to remember that although misdiagnosis is a form of medical malpractice, not all are considered such. This is because some health conditions are challenging to diagnose, and a misdiagnosis is possible even without negligence on the part of the treating physician.

How to Determine if Medical Malpractice Caused a Misdiagnosis

To determine if medical malpractice has occurred, a patient must be able to establish:

• There is a doctor-patient relationship, which indicates that the doctor had a duty of care
• The doctor did not follow the standard care steps that another doctor would have when given similar information
• The misdiagnosis resulted in further injury that would not have occurred if the illness had been accurately diagnosed
• That misdiagnosis alone is the primary cause of the current injury

Unfortunately, these types of things can be challenging to prove without the help of others. Typically, an expert or a physician must demonstrate that the original treating physician mishandled the information available to them. A Suffolk County attorney could help a person determine if a misdiagnosis occurred.

Consequences of a Misdiagnosis

Medical misdiagnoses can negatively affect their victims because they often lead to further injury, including long-term disabilities or death, and emotional distress. These consequences stem from:

• Not receiving proper treatment
• Medical conditions worsening
• Additional pain and suffering
• Unnecessary surgical procedures
• Risk of high-risk treatments
• Unnecessary medications or dangerous side effects
• More invasive treatment later or loss of treatment options
• Death

Considering the most misdiagnosed illnesses include heart attacks, strokes, infections, and cancer, a person may end up getting proper treatment long after it can effectively help them. An injured person and their family often feel frustrated when they discover that an accurate diagnosis could have been made much earlier. A lawyer could account for all the consequences of a misdiagnosis in Suffolk County in a lawsuit.

Is Compensation Available for Medical Misdiagnosis?

If an individual and their Suffolk County lawyer establish a misdiagnosis claim, compensation may be obtained from the physician, their practice, or the hospital where they are employed. The type of compensation available will vary depending on:

• The severity of injury
• How long until a proper diagnosis was made
• The kind of misdiagnosis

Higher settlement amounts are frequently awarded when a misdiagnosis leads to significant life-altering consequences. This may occur in situations where a delayed cancer diagnosis results in postponed treatment and a deterioration of the patient's condition.

Claimants who can demonstrate that a misdiagnosis led to a deterioration in their health are eligible for compensation covering both economic and non-economic damages. This is to help alleviate financial burdens that have accumulated or may come and compensate a person for the emotional toll caused by the error.

Contact a Duffy & Duffy Attorney for Advice Regarding Misdiagnosis Malpractice in Suffolk County

New York has a statute of limitations of two years and six months from the date of a misdiagnosis. This limitation may change based on the details of your claim, but we recommend that anyone who thinks they have been misdiagnosed seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Contact our Suffolk County misdiagnosis malpractice lawyer today for a free consultation. We will do all we can to help you through this terrible experience.