When patients experience abnormal symptoms, they trust that doctors will conduct the proper tests and determine if they are suffering from cancer or other more benign ailments. In some instances, physicians may miss signs and symptoms of cancer, and patients may delay care because of this negligence. Residents of Maryland should be aware of certain steps when proving a misdiagnosis claim.
Tests and procedures
After experiencing symptoms that are consistent with an underlying illness, individuals should seek medical care as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, physicians may recommend X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans, and other procedures. Physicians may see a shadow on a scan that may be consistent with cancer or other ailments. It is important that doctors properly determine what the cause of a shadow is so that they can rule out serious health concerns.
Second opinions
It is usually important to obtain a second opinion when receiving a diagnosis from a doctor. Physicians may not agree about a diagnosis, and doctors have various levels of experience with certain ailments. To make sure that a patient is receiving the best care, it is important to hear the opinions of as many physicians as possible.
Standard of medical care
If the initial physician did not make a proper diagnosis, patients must prove that the doctor failed to live up to a professional standard of care in order to recover damages. This requires that a patient proves that a reasonable physician in the community should have made the proper diagnosis. Individuals may need to use the testimony of other physicians in order to show that the initial physician was negligent in failing to properly diagnose an illness.
Hire an attorney
An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help patients recover damages against physicians who failed to make the correct diagnosis. Attorneys should know the standards that must be satisfied to pursue a claim and should have connections with experts who can testify on behalf of a client. Medical malpractice claims can be complex, so it is important to hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney to handle your case.
