Medical malpractice is a form of medical negligence that occurs in thousands of medical cases across the United States on a yearly basis. Medical malpractice may occur as a result of any type of mistake made by medical professionals or their staff that fails to comply with the required standard of medical care. One common form of medical malpractice relates to failing to diagnose a patient with a medical condition when one exists or the improper diagnosing of an illness. While some patients are fortunate because they have not experienced any significant harm as a result of malpractice, many suffer from life threatening illnesses that are further complicated as a result of medical malpractice. If you or your loved one has been injured because of a medical error, contact an attorney at Power & Power Law for an initial consultation today.
Commonly Misdiagnosed Illnesses
While diagnosing an illness is difficult because patients often present a set of symptoms that can all be indicators of a variety of different diseases, medical professionals are required to test and rule out all possible illnesses to get to the source of the problem. This is the only way to effectively treat a medical condition. However, in many cases, doctors make mistakes or skip steps in this process, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions. The most common illnesses that are misdiagnosed include:
- Cancer:The National Cancer Institute indicates that there are more than 100 different forms of cancer that exist today. Some forms of cancer are rare, while others are extremely common. Our attorneys are aware that a misdiagnosis can occur regardless of whether the cancer is rare or common, as both forms have been misdiagnosed regularly. The most common misdiagnosed cancers include lymphoma, breast cancer, and melanoma.
- Heart Attack: Individuals who are having a heart attack often present a variety of symptoms which make detection of the condition difficult among different patients. Other factors including age and race also play into a misdiagnosis as certain individuals are at higher risk or do not immediately present as an individual who would be suffering from a heart attack.
- Stroke:A stroke is another type of illness that requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to one’s body, but strokes are often misdiagnosed.
Contact an Attorney
If you or your loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice, you should speak with an experienced Anchorage personal injury attorney to determine your rights to relief. Power & Power Law is your one-stop-shop for personal injury claims in the Anchorage area. We will be happy to meet with you during an initial consultation to review your claim and determine what the legal ramifications of a medical mistake are for you. Do not delay speaking with an attorney, contact us today.