When Is a Pneumonia Misdiagnosis Considered Medical Negligence?
Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for ensuring a medical condition is treated correctly and on time. It is vital for ensuring the best outcome. A misdiagnosis can delay treatment or result in a patient receiving the wrong or unnecessary treatment. This can cause a patient’s condition to worsen or even result in death. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis is quite common in the United States. According to research, healthcare professionals misdiagnose diseases around 11% of the time. Research suggests that about 795,000 people die or become permanently disabled every year in the U.S. after they are diagnosed with the wrong conditions. One of the conditions that can be misdiagnosed is pneumonia. Pneumonia is a very serious medical condition, and a misdiagnosis can have serious consequences for patients. A pneumonia misdiagnosis can cost a patient his or her life. When a pneumonia misdiagnosis occurs because of negligence and causes harm to a patient, the patient and/or their family may be eligible for legal redress. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to a pneumonia misdiagnosis, it is crucial to contact a skilled medical malpractice attorney. A qualified medical malpractice attorney can help determine if medical negligence is involved.
Why Is Pneumonia Often Misdiagnosed?
Pneumonia is an inflammatory lung infection mainly caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It can result in shortness of breath, cough, fever, and chest pain. Pneumonia is a common disease affecting millions of people every year. It can affect only one lung or both lungs. When it affects both lungs, it is called double or bilateral pneumonia.
Pneumonia is often misdiagnosed due to various reasons. One of the main reasons this condition is misdiagnosed is because its symptoms can appear similar to the symptoms of other diseases. The following are some of the conditions that have symptoms that mimic those of pneumonia:
- Bronchitis
- Heart attack
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- The flu
- Acute respiratory distress or failure
- Legionnaires disease
- Sepsis
- Adult measles
- Sinus infection
- Septicemia
- Some forms of lung cancer
- Tuberculosis
If someone with pneumonia is misdiagnosed with another condition and they receive the wrong treatment, it can result in significant harm. Delayed or incorrect diagnosis could result in the worsening of symptoms and even death.
When Is a Pneumonia Misdiagnosis Considered Medical Negligence?
Not all cases of pneumonia misdiagnosis are considered medical negligence. Medical negligence arises when a medical professional fails in their duty of care by failing to adhere to the expected standard of care, causing harm to a patient. Medical negligence arises when a medical professional fails to act in a manner that another medical professional in the same situation would have acted. The following are some of the ways a medical professional can fail in their duty of care:
- Rushing the examination
- Failing to order diagnosis tests
- Overlooking clear symptoms
- Ignoring patient complaints
- Neglecting comprehensive patient history
- Lack of follow-up
- Failure to read tests correctly
Victims of medical negligence and/or their family members can file a medical malpractice claim and seek financial compensation. Potential damages that can be sought in a medical malpractice claim include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral expenses
Contact an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a pneumonia misdiagnosis, contact our skilled Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at Carroll Law Firm for legal help. We can help you determine if you have a valid medical malpractice case, and, if you do, we can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Source:
usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/07/18/medical-misdiagnosis-killing-disabling-americans/70423573007/
