How a Misdiagnosis Can Lead to an Aneurysm
Posted on July 21, 2023 in Medical Malpractice
Medical staff are busier than ever, leading to reduced time with patients to offer preventive care. Suffering from an aneurysm that is misdiagnosed leads to a poorer health outcome, which can change the patient’s life dramatically and can even lead to death.
There is trusted help available when your health has suffered from a breakdown in medical care. An experienced Portland misdiagnosis lawyer will understand what you are facing with a misdiagnosis claim. Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is a compassionate team ready to work for you.
Recognizing an Aneurysm
Aneurysms are unnatural protrusions or bulges in the blood vessel wall. They can be asymptomatic, often making them difficult to recognize. Even with large aneurysms, symptoms may not be present, making them challenging to diagnose.
The symptoms will depend on where the aneurysm is located. Some of the symptoms you may experience include:
- Sudden intense pain in the part of the body where the aneurysm is located
- A feeling of ripping or tearing
- Lightheadedness or a sudden drop in blood pressure
- Double vision or loss of vision
- Numbness or weakness
Eventually, this weak point in the blood vessel wall has potential to rupture. This causes internal bleeding, which often results in death.
How Aneurysms are Misdiagnosed
Unfortunately, misdiagnosis of aneurysms of all kinds is common. It is vital that every individual acts as their own advocate. You understand when something feels abnormal for your body, and it is always okay to question the opinions of medical professionals and seek a second diagnosis.
Medical facilities often suffer from chronic staffing shortages while being historically overworked. The short time a doctor spends with a patient usually does not allow them to develop a full understanding of a patient’s health. Additionally, miscommunication between staff can lead to symptoms not being properly relayed to the physician.
These shortcomings in the health system often lead to inadequacies in follow-up care, with doctors failing to order the needed testing and scans that can identify the aneurysm. A lack of insurance coverage might influence a physician’s decisions in ordering the proper tests. Oftentimes, the symptoms of aneurysm are mistaken for another disease, leading to a delayed diagnosis and response.
Proving Misdiagnosis of Aneurysm
Laws that apply to a misdiagnosis are complex, and many such errors may qualify as a medical malpractice case in Portland. Medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from when an injury is discovered or should have been reasonably discovered. After five years, no medical malpractice claim can be filed regardless of whether the injuries were apparent before that time ends.
Each misdiagnosis claim should be examined promptly because additional statutes of limitation may apply. A misdiagnosis attorney in Portland must prove the provider did not meet the standard of care other practitioners in their field would provide. They must subsequently prove that this breach in care resulted in the damages suffered by the patient.
A misdiagnosis attorney will examine available medical documentation, seek expert witness testimony, and establish if other incidents of patient injury are documented. A value must also be placed on a patient’s losses due to their injuries.
Compassionate Advocacy for Portland Misdiagnoses
The effects of an aneurysm can change your life instantly. The most tragic element is that this did not have to happen. Our years of representing clients that suffer needlessly from misdiagnosis have proven the importance of advocacy and care. Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is ready to help, and it costs nothing to speak with a member of our team today.