Avoiding misdiagnosis is a moral, professional, and public health imperative, according to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. However, estimates vary significantly regarding the full scope of harms related to medical misdiagnosis scenarios. The Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence estimates that:

• 12 million Americans are affected each year by misdiagnosis situations, and perhaps one-third are harmed as a result.
• Misdiagnosis errors may account for 40,000 to 80,000 preventable deaths annually in U.S. hospitals.

The top three misdiagnosed conditions, according to Johns Hopkins, are strokes, sepsis, and cancer. These “big three” account for approximately one-third of all diagnostic errors. Other frequently misdiagnosed conditions include heart attacks and brain hemorrhages.

What Causes a Misdiagnosis

A misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare professional incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition or provides an incorrect explanation of their symptoms. A delayed diagnosis is another related occurrence, which is any case in which a patient does not get the correct diagnosis in a reasonable amount of time. A misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis could result in inappropriate treatments, delayed interventions, and countless complications. The reasons behind a misdiagnosis are multifaceted and often stem from a combination of factors.

• One significant factor is the complexity of certain medical conditions. There are several diseases with overlapping symptoms which pose a challenge for proper diagnosis. For example, Multiple Sclerosis has a range of symptoms that overlap with several other conditions, including migraines, fibromyalgia, and various neurologic disorders.
• Time constraints faced by many healthcare professionals can contribute to a misdiagnosis. The pressure to make rapid decisions may lead to rushed judgments, lack of critical thinking, shortcuts being taken, and oversights being made.
• A misdiagnosis could occur due to poor communication among healthcare providers. When information about a patient’s medical history, symptoms, or test results is not effectively shared and understood, the probability of an error in diagnosis increases.
• Patients may inadvertently contribute to a misdiagnosis by giving inaccurate or incomplete reporting of their symptoms.  
• Another contributing factor is the cognitive biases that healthcare professionals may unknowingly bring into their decision-making process. Cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that impacts decisions and judgments. These biases include confirmation bias, where a doctor might favor information confirming preconceived thoughts, and anchoring bias, where initial impressions heavily influence subsequent decisions. These can lead to tunnel vision and diagnostic errors.
• Other systemic issues within the healthcare system contribute to these errors, including lack of diagnostic tools, inconsistent quality in healthcare delivery, and variations in clinical practices.

In sum, a misdiagnosis can occur at various stages of the healthcare process, each influenced by distinct factors.

Medical Malpractice and Misdiagnosis

If you believe you have been injured due to a misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis in Florida, your legal counsel must prove the following legal elements:

• The doctor owed you a duty of care.
• The doctor breached that duty of care.
• The breach was the proximate cause of your injuries.
• Your injuries are compensable.

If your attorney can prove the foregoing elements, they are showing that your doctor was negligent and did not meet the appropriate standard of care required of that type of physician in the state of Florida.

If you’ve suffered harm due to a misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis, you may be able to recover compensatory damages. These include economic damages, which comprise your medical and rehabilitation costs and fees, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses. You may also be able to recover your non-economic damages, which include things like emotional distress and pain and suffering. An Orlando misdiagnosis attorney can help you understand whether you may have a claim. Please note that if you do have the basis to make a claim, in most cases, it must be pursued within a two-year period, which is known as the statute of limitations.

Contact Osborne, Francis & Pettis

Not all misdiagnosis or delayed-diagnosis cases are caused by negligence, but if you or a loved one believe you have been harmed, contact Osborne, Francis & Pettis immediately for a free and confidential consultation to explore your options.