A delayed or missed diagnosis can lead to serious complications or even a preventable death. When doctors do not meet the accepted standard of care, they can be held liable for any harm they cause. If you or a loved one was harmed due to medical malpractice, it is crucial to understand the signs your diagnosis was delayed or missed in Toledo.
An attorney can manage your case with a focus on securing the compensation that you are owed.
Signs Your Diagnosis Was Delayed or Missed in Toledo
Every 40 seconds, someone in this country has a stroke. Whether a patient has cancer or is experiencing a medical emergency, a timely and accurate diagnosis can be crucial for protecting that individual’s health and addressing the underlying health problem. And still, diagnostic errors account for a staggering 26.6% of medical malpractice claims, and 39% of those cases deal with wrongful deaths. Signs of a missed or delayed diagnosis can include:
- Symptoms that worsen despite treatment
- Repeated visits tied to the same medical symptoms
- Receiving a more accurate diagnosis after seeking a second opinion
- Lab results that were not promptly addressed
Patients seeking treatment at ProMedica Toledo Hospital or Mercy Health — St. Vincent Medical Center may see multiple healthcare providers before the cause of their symptoms is identified. A delayed diagnosis can become harmful when a patient is dealing with progressive conditions such as cancer or time-sensitive emergencies like strokes and heart attacks.
How Diagnostic Errors Can Affect Your Health
Whether you seek medical attention at Old West End, East Toledo, or another neighborhood in Toledo, a diagnostic error can cause a treatable health problem to become far more serious. Someone with cancer may lose valuable time as the disease progresses, potentially limiting available treatment options.
A patient whose infection goes undiagnosed could develop sepsis, while a missed blood clot can lead to a stroke or pulmonary embolism. These delays can mean longer hospital stays, additional procedures, and more difficult recoveries. Patients may be left with permanent disabilities, chronic pain, reduced mobility, or the need for ongoing medical care. Severe cases could lead to a preventable death.
Why You Should Hire a Failure to Diagnose Lawyer
Nearly three in 10 medical doctors have faced a medical malpractice claim in their lifetime, and many such court actions deal with a delayed or missed diagnosis. In order to prove that a doctor failed to deliver the expected standard of care for someone in his position, you would need to present evidence and sound legal arguments backing your failure-to-diagnose case.
Without legal support from a Toledo failure to diagnose attorney, you could fail to meet the state’s strict one-year deadline for a medical malpractice claim and other requirements. When you hire a failure to diagnose lawyer, you gain steady support from a Toledo failure to diagnose attorney who understands the state’s strict failure to diagnose laws and the steps that are needed to protect your claim through a focused failure to diagnose case.
Spangenberg Shibley & Liber brings decades of experience to these complex legal matters. We can gather the evidence that is needed to establish liability before pursuing the compensation that you are owed.
Our award-winning law firm has helped clients reclaim more than $1 billion in compensation, and we focus on high-value cases that can lead to six- and seven-figure settlements. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results.
Harmed By a Diagnostic Error? Let’s Talk
Recognizing the signs of a delayed or missed diagnosis can be the first step toward holding a negligent healthcare provider accountable. Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has extensive experience handling complex medical malpractice claims, including cases involving delayed diagnoses. Our attorneys can investigate your medical care, document the harm you suffered, and pursue compensation on your behalf. Contact Spangenberg Shibley & Liber today.
