[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/misdiagnosis-leads-to-deaths-and-permanent-disabilities\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/misdiagnosis-leads-to-deaths-and-permanent-disabilities\/","headline":"Misdiagnosis Leads to Deaths and Permanent Disabilities","name":"Misdiagnosis Leads to Deaths and Permanent Disabilities","description":"In the United States, approximately 371,000 people die, and 424,000 people suffer permanent disabilities due to a medical misdiagnosis each year, according to a recent report published by BMJ Quality and Safety. When misdiagnosis is not fatal, it can result in permanent disabilities that are devastating, including blindness, brain damage, metastasized cancer, and the loss of limbs or...","datePublished":"2023-08-23","dateModified":"2025-01-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/author\/medmalpractice\/#Person","name":"Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson","url":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/author\/medmalpractice\/","identifier":10,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bc93acd826155387e17c1b11bab540735f6dbf8c8a2b85a2f8f2eeda668152a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bc93acd826155387e17c1b11bab540735f6dbf8c8a2b85a2f8f2eeda668152a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Medmalpractice-Logo-1.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Medmalpractice-Logo-1.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kelley-J-Johnson.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Kelley-J-Johnson.jpg","width":238,"height":270},"url":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/misdiagnosis-leads-to-deaths-and-permanent-disabilities\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":559,"articleBody":"In the United States, approximately 371,000 people die, and 424,000 people suffer permanent disabilities due to a medical misdiagnosis each year, according to a recent report published by BMJ Quality and Safety. When misdiagnosis is not fatal, it can result in permanent disabilities that are devastating, including blindness, brain damage, metastasized cancer, and the loss of limbs or organs.\u00a0Described as \u201cerrors of omission,\u201d diagnostic errors are often due to doctors attributing certain non-specific symptoms to a more common and less serious condition or disease rather than the serious condition responsible for the patient\u2019s symptoms. If you suspect you or a loved one was harmed because of misdiagnosis errors, reach out to a skilled Indiana medical malpractice attorney who will hold those responsible accountable.\u00a0Conditions Most Likely to Be MisdiagnosedThe report shows that nearly 40% of the deaths and permanent disabilities are due to errors in diagnosing the following five conditions:\u00a0Stroke \u2013\u00a0 Nine percent of strokes are not properly diagnosed at the patient\u2019s first contact with a medical provider.\u00a0Sepsis \u2013 Multiple organ failure is possible if there is a delay in diagnosing a patient with sepsis.\u00a0Pneumonia \u2013 Doctors can mistake pneumonia for asthma, the flu, sinus infections, or the common cold.\u00a0Venous thromboembolism \u2013 Failure to diagnose venous thromboembolism can lead to a fatal pulmonary embolism.\u00a0\u00a0Lung cancer \u2013 Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. It is also the most deadly form of cancer.Causes for Diagnosis ErrorsMisdiagnosis errors can occur in the following ways:\u00a0Failure to diagnose \u2013 A doctor can fail to diagnose a patient\u2019s disease or condition by failing to recognize the symptoms.\u00a0Wrong diagnosis \u2013 If a doctor diagnoses a patient with the wrong disease or condition, their treatment plan will not be appropriate for the patient\u2019s actual condition.\u00a0\u00a0Delayed diagnosis \u2013 If the doctor fails to timely diagnose the disease or condition, a delay in treatment could have devastating, or even fatal, consequences.\u00a0How Misdiagnosis Hurts a PatientA misdiagnosis can have life-threatening consequences. Doctor errors hurt patients when their misdiagnoses cause a delay that prevents the patient from receiving the critical care they need. For example, a patient may be required to follow a painful, expensive treatment plan which could have been a second or third option for treatment had the disease or condition been accurately and promptly diagnosed.\u00a0Failure to timely diagnose or a misdiagnosis of a disease or condition may also mean the disease will spread or worsen, decreasing the patient\u2019s chance of survival. Tragically, a misdiagnosis may ultimately mean an untimely death.\u00a0\u00a0Legal Options After a MisdiagnosisAfter you discover your misdiagnosis, consult with a medical malpractice attorney immediately. An attorney can determine whether you have a claim for compensation related to your misdiagnosis. With an experienced lawyer on your side, you can be confident your case will be handled appropriately while you focus on your treatment and recovery.\u00a0Kelley J. Johnson has nearly 20 years of litigation experience. Our firm brings passion, skill, and knowledge to all our cases, including those that deal with healthcare providers\u2019 medical mistakes. We can review the facts and circumstances of your case, obtain medical records and other evidence, assess potential liability, and handle the legal process for you. Contact us today to discuss your case. Kelly J. Johnson is the Indiana Medical Malpractice Attorney who\u2019s here for you."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Misdiagnosis Leads to Deaths and Permanent Disabilities","item":"https:\/\/www.medmalpractice.law\/blog\/misdiagnosis-leads-to-deaths-and-permanent-disabilities\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]