Key Takeaways
- Commonly misdiagnosed conditions include cancer, lupus, Lyme disease, hypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
- Cancers such as melanoma, breast cancer, and lymphoma are often misdiagnosed, commonly because of ignored medical history or rushed exams.
- Lupus and Lyme disease can mimic other conditions, and Lyme disease is often diagnosed as the flu or even depression.
- Doctors may not pursue a multiple sclerosis diagnosis because it seems rare and requires invasive testing.
- Not every missed diagnosis is malpractice, which occurs when a doctor does not follow the steps, analysis, or best practices other doctors would.
Most people expect their doctor to know exactly what is wrong with them, administer the recommended treatment, and then recover. Yet, there are times when doctors make critical mistakes, including misdiagnosing a medical condition. When they do, that can lead to deadly consequences for those victims. Our Portland misdiagnosis attorney is prepared to help if you or a loved one have suffered harm due to a lack of timely action.
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These Are Common Misdiagnosed Medical Conditions
The sooner a doctor spots a problem, the faster a patient receives quality care with the goal of correcting the underlying concern so healing can take place. In the following examples, though, you have conditions that are often misdiagnosed or missed fully, and that leads to the onset of pain and suffering that is unnecessary.
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- Cancer: Cancer, including melanoma, breast cancer, and lymphoma, are some of the most commonly misdiagnosed illnesses today. Not paying attention to a patient’s medical history or providing rushed examinations are common causes.
- Lupus: A condition that can create long-term pain in the joints, lupus can be challenging to detect because it tends to mimic other conditions.
- Lyme disease: Another condition that has common symptoms easily associated with other benign conditions, Lyme disease can lead to long-term implications. Many times, it is diagnosed as the flu or even depression.
- Hypothyroidism: For those who have excessive weight or difficulty with fatigue, hypothyroidism could be to blame, but doctors often point their finger at a lack of exercise or overheating.
- Multiple sclerosis: A type of autoimmune disease, MS impacts many parts of the body, creating difficulty for your muscles to work as they should. Many times, doctors do not pursue this diagnosis because it seems rare and requires invasive testing.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: If you have this condition, it means you have painful joints, often those that swell significantly. However, the early signs and symptoms are often missed, and when that occurs, it means patients suffer complications they should not have.
- Fibromyalgia: A condition notorious for creating intense fatigue and memory issues, fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed, and that means long-term suffering.
Not Every Missed Diagnosis Is Medical Malpractice
It is critical to know that not every instance in which a doctor does not diagnose a condition immediately could be considered medical malpractice. Rather, this occurs when the doctor does not take the steps and procedures, or analyze the information from labs and exams, the same way other doctors would or otherwise does not follow medical best practices.
Because it is complex to make any medical decision, doctors are tasked with following specific protocols. When they do not do so for any reason, that could put a patient’s life on the line or, at least, cause unnecessary burdens on them. In situations where this is preventable, you may be owed compensation for your losses.
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Working with a Portland medical malpractice attorney could be the best way for you to find out if you were misdiagnosed through the errors or oversights of a doctor, and, if so, what steps you should take to pursue any compensation owed to you. In each situation, it is critical to get the legal support you need.
For help with misdiagnosed medical conditions you believe have happened, contact Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC at (503) 226-6361 for a free consultation. We are here to help you.