Malpractice or Misdiagnosis?

    DALLAS, TX, November 02, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Simply being misdiagnosed with something by a healthcare professional is not necessarily grounds for a case of medical malpractice. While they may both be considered negligence, a misdiagnosis of an illness, medical condition, or something else is, in most cases, a mistake that can lead to a tragedy. A misdiagnosis can be based on faulty information or wrong information gathered from the patient, and is thus not always clearly the fault of the doctor. Malpractice can be the result of a doctor breaking the rules and violating the standards of care we rely on to keep us healthy and out of harm's way.

Misdiagnosis

A misdiagnosis is a wrong diagnosis. Some ailments are misdiagnosed immediately, while others can take place days, weeks or even months later. A problem may exist but it has been overlooked or not properly identified by the healthcare professional.
There are various reasons or errors for a misdiagnosis to occur:

- An inexperienced doctor
- Incompetent doctors or medical staff
- Defected medical equipment
- A patient's decision to conceal information
- Language barrier between medical professional and patient
- An unusual diagnosis that a doctor is not familiar with and cannot recognize the signs

Patients can reduce the chances of a misdiagnosis in different ways. You can always get a second opinion if you disagree with, or are unsure of, the first opinion. Not only can you confirm the diagnosis but also learn about other types of treatment offered. You should also disclose everything to your doctor, including medication you are taking and any lifestyle habits. All of this information could be very important toward identifying your ailment and your treatment options.

Malpractice

Substandard treatment or negligence by a physician that does not follow or violates proper safety rules and procedures where a patient suffers injuries is considered medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice can be tricky to prove. You must show that the healthcare provider was not only negligent in their care, but that there was a "violation of the standard of care" that wound up causing an injury. Had the illness or injury never occurred if there was no violation of the standards of care, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim.

Examples of medical malpractice include:
- Failure to order tests
- Failure to recognize symptoms
- Failure to diagnose
- Misdiagnosis
- Surgical errors
- Unnecessary or wrong site surgery
- Medication dosage errors
- Premature discharge
- Disregard of or inadequate taking of patient history
- Poor quality after care

If you live in Dallas, Texas and have been the victim of medical malpractice or a misdiagnosis that lead to an injury or illness, please visit the website of Polewski Law, P.C. today at www.polewskilaw.com.

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