Terre Haute Delayed Diagnosis Lawyer

Medical professionals are trained to have the knowledge necessary to diagnose and properly treat patient symptoms. If a doctor does not diagnose your condition or is delayed in doing so, you will not get the treatment necessary to get better. In some cases, a delayed diagnosis can be easily fixed with no harm to the patient, while in other cases, a delayed diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death.

If you have experienced serious harm or injury in this way, a Terre Haute delayed diagnosis lawyer can evaluate your case and explain your legal options, such as filing a lawsuit against the medical professional who is responsible for the error. A medical malpractice attorney may not be able to heal your condition, but we can help you fight for compensation and hold negligent doctors accountable.

Types of Delayed Diagnosis Situations

When a medical professional fails to diagnose an illness or injury in a timely manner, the condition has the opportunity to worsen. Delayed diagnoses can occur in many scenarios, including:

Misinterpretation of Symptoms

A doctor may misinterpret symptoms and incorrectly diagnose an illness. For example, lung cancer can appear as a respiratory disease, such as asthma. If a doctor treats the problem as asthma, the real condition does not get addressed. By the time the doctor arrives at the correct diagnosis, the cancer may have advanced to a less treatable stage.

Misinterpretation of Test Results

A medical professional may arrive at a wrong diagnosis if they misread or misinterpret test results. An incorrect diagnosis can result in additional testing and unnecessary treatments that may cause harm to the patient.

Failure to Follow-up with Test Results

If initial test results indicate a health issue, the doctor should follow up with additional tests or a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. If the doctor does not follow up with the patient, the illness remains undiagnosed until a future appointment and receives a delayed diagnosis. This generally counts as negligence on the doctor’s part and can cause a patient’s condition to worsen.

A delayed diagnosis can be the start of a long, painful ordeal that continues to worsen until someone finally arrives at the correct diagnosis. Although not every delayed diagnosis constitutes medical malpractice, there are numerous instances in which medical professionals are at fault. A Terre Haute lawyer who has experience with delayed diagnosis claims can help determine whether your case is an example of medical malpractice.

How a Lawyer Can Help After a Missed Diagnosis

When pursuing compensation for damages in a delayed diagnosis case, a Terre Haute attorney must prove:

• There was an official doctor-patient relationship.
• The doctor did not follow an accepted standard of care.
• The delayed diagnosis could have been avoided if the doctor had followed an accepted standard of care.
• The delayed diagnosis resulted in harm to the patient.

After establishing these factors through careful investigation of medical records, expert opinions, and other forms of proof, a lawyer can file a lawsuit against the doctor, claiming they are responsible for the damages suffered by the patient, potentially including related medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

Talk to a Delayed Diagnosis Attorney in Terre Haute About Your Situation

If you suspect you have suffered harm due to a delayed diagnosis, contact a Terre Haute delayed diagnosis lawyer right away. The experienced attorneys at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin can determine if you can pursue compensation. You do not have to suffer alone. Schedule a consultation and get the legal advice that you need.