As a Missouri patient, you depend on your physician for a quick, accurate diagnosis and treatment when you’re under the weather. However, if your doctor doesn’t identify your condition in a timely manner, your health could deteriorate.
According to the American Medical Association, physicians have a strong obligation to patients when there is an impending risk of harm. In these situations, delayed treatment may adversely impact your emotional or physical well-being.
What is a delayed diagnosis?
If your doctor doesn’t diagnosis your ailment or health condition in a reasonable amount of time, the delay could result in worsening health issues. This differs from misdiagnosis, which occurs when the diagnosis is incorrect. Delayed diagnosis can happen in a variety of situations, such as the following:
- Lost or incorrectly collected test results
- Dismissed symptoms, despite patient reports
- Withheld referral to a specialist when it’s clearly needed
- Ignored symptoms by the doctor
In some cases, taking early action can help you avoid unnecessary procedures, such as surgery. If your physician delays your diagnosis, it can negatively impact the rest of your life.
How can you prove a delayed diagnosis?
One of the most straightforward requirements for proving your case is establishing the doctor-patient relationship. This connection forms when a doctor provides you with medical care. Medical records may provide the proof needed. Physicians must abide by a standard of care. If the majority of medical professions would have acted differently when handling your case than your physician did, they may have violated the standard of care requirement.
If the delayed diagnosis caused preventable harm or resulted in a worsened condition and specific damages resulted, you may recover compensation.