Patients see doctors in the hope of getting better, not worse. However, despite extensive training, doctors and other health care providers can make mistakes. If an error causes harm to a patient, the patient can file a medical malpractice lawsuit to get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and life impact due to pain and suffering. Here is what you need to know about misdiagnosis and medical malpractice.

How Medical Misdiagnosis Is Defined

Medical misdiagnosis refers to a variety of mistakes involving identifying an illness or injury and the resulting treatment. A wrong diagnosis occurs when the doctor incorrectly determines a patient's condition. Another is a missed diagnosis, which occurs when the patient is deemed healthy but is actually sick. With a delayed diagnosis, the physician correctly determines the condition but after a delay during which the patient gets worse. 

Other misdiagnoses include a failure to diagnose a related disease and a failure to recognize complications. These errors may occur due to misreading lab results, inaccurate records, inadequate training, or a lack of communication between medical staff. 

When Misdiagnosis Is Medical Malpractice

A misdiagnosis is not automatically considered medical malpractice. Health care professionals are only human; they can make mistakes like anybody else, though those mistakes could have terrible consequences. 

The patient must prove the doctor acted in a negligent manner below the established standard of care accepted by the medical community. Negligence is the key in medical malpractice and other personal injury cases. 

What You Need to Prove Medical Malpractice

A successful medical malpractice claim must prove three points. First, you must establish that a doctor-patient relationship existed. This is typically the easiest part to prove. 

Next, you must demonstrate that the doctor was negligent. Your attorney may accomplish this through testimony from medical experts and investigation of the doctor's differential diagnosis method. Differential diagnosis prompts a doctor to make an initial list of the patient's possible conditions in order of probability. 

Lastly, you must show that the misdiagnosis caused actual injury. There must be a clear link between the error and the harm you have suffered.

For help with a medical malpractice case, trust the attorneys at Ibold & O'Brien. Since 1980, the full-service law firm has provided reliable legal advice and representation to clients in Chardon, OH, and throughout Geauga and Ashtabula counties. The attorneys have extensive experience in personal injury law, including medical malpractice, auto accidents, dog bites, and defective products. You can count on them to fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (440) 437-5295 for a consultation or visit their website for more information.