Failure to diagnose is a form of medical malpractice where a healthcare provider does not identify a patient’s illness or injury in a timely manner, leading to a delay, misdiagnosis, or complete failure to diagnose. This can worsen a patient’s condition, lead to more severe harm, and may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit if negligence is proven and the failure caused injury. Common causes include overlooking symptoms, failing to order tests, and miscommunication between providers.
How Failure to Diagnose Occurs
- Overlooked symptoms: A doctor fails to recognize the connection between a patient’s symptoms and a specific illness.
- Improper testing: A provider fails to order appropriate diagnostic tests, such as those needed for cancer or a pulmonary embolism.
- Dismissal of complaints: A doctor dismisses the patient’s complaints or symptoms, leading to a lack of investigation.
- Communication errors: There are breakdowns in communication between different healthcare providers or departments.
- Anchoring bias: A doctor relies too heavily on an initial diagnosis and fails to consider other possibilities.
- Inadequate follow-up: A provider fails to follow up on test results, leading to a delay in diagnosis.
Consequences
- The patient’s condition can worsen.
- Treatment becomes less effective or even impossible.
- The patient may suffer irreversible physical damage.
- The patient may endure significant emotional and financial hardship.
- In the worst cases, the failure to diagnose can lead to disability or death.
Examples of Conditions Frequently Involved In Failure to Diagnose Cases
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Meningitis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Sepsis
- Infection
