Physicians or medical doctors provide several key services to their patients. They can refer people to specialists for testing and treatment. They can prescribe medication or specialized care, such as physical therapy.
They also diagnose the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for the recovery of patients. Otherwise, the best that health care professionals can do is treat their symptoms. Understanding what causes the symptoms is key to successfully eliminating them or at least minimizing them. Unfortunately, failing to diagnose patients is a common form of medical malpractice. The following are some of the typical scenarios in which doctors fail to diagnose their patients.
When they ignore patient complaints
Some doctors set aside self-reported symptoms. They may assume that a patient exaggerated their issues or may question their motive. For example, patients complaining of generalized pain may seem like they simply want medication. Doctors who ignore symptoms that they cannot independently validate may fail to diagnose their patients, which can lead to a far worse long-term prognosis for the patient.
When they lack necessary information
There are several scenarios in which doctors can fail to diagnose patients due to a lack of information. There could be internal communication issues at a medical facility. The patient may have related certain symptoms to intake specialists and nurses who did not mark the chart or speak to the physician. The individual may be unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate. Doctors may also fail to thoroughly review medical records and charts before attempting to diagnose patients in their care.
If doctors don’t have accurate, comprehensive information about the situation, they may not be able to reach an accurate diagnosis. They may also lack training about how certain medical conditions, like strokes and heart attacks, might present differently in women versus men.
When they rush to a conclusion
Doctors can reach an affirmative diagnosis by validating the presence of an injury or a specific pathogen. Imaging tests, biopsies and laboratory testing can all help secure an affirmative diagnosis. Other times, doctors don’t affirm their diagnosis but make an educated guess. They might assume that a patient’s cough is indicative of a viral infection. In reality, the cough could be an early warning sign of lung cancer or mesothelioma. When doctors don’t take the time to explore different potential causes of generic symptoms, they may fail to diagnose a very severe medical issue.
When doctors fail to diagnose patients, people don’t receive the treatment they need for the best possible outcome. They may have fewer treatment options, worse symptoms and a poor prognosis. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is a reasonable reaction to a doctor failing to diagnose a patient with a serious malady. Patients who understand that diagnostic errors are common can use that knowledge to respond appropriately when medical mistakes affect them or a loved one.