Many malpractice suits arise from the missed or delayed diagnosis of a medical condition. When a doctor's diagnostic error leads to incorrect treatment or delayed treatment, the patient's condition can be made much worse, and he or she may even die.
However, a misdiagnosis itself is not evidence of malpractice. Even the best doctors can and will make diagnostic errors even when using reasonable care. The key is determining whether the doctor acted in accordance with the local standard of care. In a malpractice case based on this kind of error, the patient must prove that a doctor in a similar specialty, under like circumstances, would not have misdiagnosed the patient's illness or condition.
The patient must also prove that the doctor's negligent misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis caused the patient's injury or caused his or her condition to get worse. For example, because of a delayed cancer diagnosis, the patient had to undergo a more severe treatment regimen (such as chemotherapy) or the patient died because the cancer had metastasized and no longer responded to treatment. Sometimes a patient can show harm even if the condition can still be treated.
Virginia Missed Diagnosis Lawyers · Chesterfield Delayed Diagnosis Attorneys
In the rare case that a doctor diagnoses a patient with a condition or illness that the patient does not have, the patient may also be able to prove harm in the form of anxiety, stress, medical problems and expenses due to unnecessary treatment.
The lawyers at Cravens & Noll can help you determine whether your case is one that can be won at trial and, if so, our malpractice team can help you recover the maximum amount of damages possible to compensate you for your injuries due to the misdiagnosis.
Contact the Richmond Misdiagnosis Attorneys at Cravens & Noll
If you or a loved one received delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of an illness or injury, our experienced attorneys can help you and hold the proper parties responsible. Turn to the experienced Richmond medical malpractice attorneys of Cravens & Noll. To schedule a free initial consultation, call 804-332-6161 or toll free at 866-547-6373, or simply contact us online.
