When you go to a doctor or other type of medical professional to seek treatment, you expect that they will use their training and skills to properly diagnose whatever condition you may be suffering from. Whether you have an injury or an illness, a proper diagnosis is critical. Unfortunately, there are times when the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional lead to a delayed diagnosis. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we are standing by to help if you need a Philadelphia delay of diagnosis attorney. We understand how these cases can affect a person’s health. A delayed diagnosis could very well be a case of medical malpractice.
A delayed diagnosis is a type of medical malpractice where a doctor or other type of medical professional fails to properly diagnose the patient at an earlier stage when it was entirely possible to do so. Please note that a delayed diagnosis does not mean that there has been no diagnosis made. A patient may finally be diagnosed with the condition, but the delay may have caused the patient to suffer from additional injuries or further complications that may have been preventable.
In these situations, a medical provider’s failure to diagnose may not have caused the patient’s illness or injuries. However, a proper diagnosis may have saved the patient from the advancement of a disease to a further stage or from additional injuries.
Often, a delayed diagnosis may be classified as a misdiagnosis, but these cases generally revolve around a medical professional missing a diagnosis that they should have been able to detect earlier.
There may be a few parties that could be held liable in the event a delayed diagnosis caused a patient’s injuries or illness to worsen. Often, the diagnosing physician could be held liable. In these cases, it is crucial to show a few elements:
Additionally, there are cases where a delayed diagnosis incident could be caused or influenced by defective medical equipment. In these cases, it may be possible to hold the company or manufacturer of the equipment liable through a product liability claim.
If you or somebody you care about has been injured because of a delayed diagnosis from a medical professional, contact an attorney today. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our team has extensive experience handling these cases. We understand how a delayed diagnosis can affect a person’s health. Let us investigate your case and work to secure full compensation for your losses, which can include:
If you need a Philadelphia delay of diagnosis attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
