Visiting a medical professional and being misdiagnosed is a dangerous issue that is far too common. Texans and people across the U.S. might be vaguely aware of how frequently a failure to diagnose or other medical mistakes occur. However, they need to understand the danger of delayed treatment resulting in spread of disease and worsened condition. These errors can cause long-term damage and even death. With medical errors being the third most common reason for death, it is imperative to be cognizant of the possibility and take steps to prevent them.
Since medical professionals are not supermen or women, it is unavoidable that they will make mistakes. While the onus is not on a patient to prevent such errors, being aware of warning flags can be helpful, even after mistakes have occurred. Finding a doctor who has a good reputation and pays attention of all the aspects of a patient’s history is beneficial. While a patient who is suffering from chest pain could mean a variety of issues have caused it, the patient history is an integral factor that a doctor should consider and conduct tests to determine its genesis.
Symptoms are frequently the catalyst to visiting the doctor. Medical professionals will generally focus on the first symptom discussed and forget about others. If there are several issues, it is smart to give the doctor a time line of what has happened and when. If a doctor begins speaking in circles, it is fine for a patient to ask for clarity. Seeking different reasons for the medical issue and not simply settling for the first thing the doctor says is a strategy to prevent unnecessary or delayed treatment. When tests are conducted, accepting what the doctor or medical professional says without discussion is risky. The doctor should explain the purpose of a test.
Patients must be certain not to accept whatever a doctor says as gospel. As the statistics have shown, medical mistakes and a wrong diagnosis are prevalent and can be deadly. These factors can also be useful for those who believe that they or a loved one was harmed by a medical mistake. If there are signals that an error was made, it must be investigated. Speaking to an attorney about a legal filing can help with the case and pursuing compensation for the error.
Source: Men’s Health, “Doctors Make Mistakes. Here’s How to Help Them Get Your Diagnosis Right,” Paul Bergl, Mar. 25, 2017
