(203) 333-3339 Medical Misdiagnosis & Failure to Diagnose Attorney in Connecticut
If a doctor fails to make an accurate diagnosis of a potentially harmful medical condition, it could cause serious health problems. Patients in Connecticut who have been negligently misdiagnosed and suffered serious consequences may have a potential medical malpractice case. A Connecticut Medical Misdiagnosis Lawyer Can help immensely.
Connecticut medical malpractice law states that damages can be awarded for the injury or death of a patient due to mistakes by the doctor in diagnosing a condition. These mistakes include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and complete failure to diagnose. A patient can receive compensation if the misdiagnosis costs them the opportunity to recover, the opportunity for a better outcome, or the opportunity for survival.
In most instances, only the primary doctor who made the error can be sued for misdiagnosis. In some cases, other healthcare professionals may be liable if their negligence caused or contributed to the patient’s injury. These professionals may include nurses, lab techs, and any specialists who took care of the patient or performed tests.
Even when the misdiagnosis errors are indisputable and the results are clear, the legal issues can still be complex. Medical malpractice claims involving misdiagnosis are very difficult to pursue. That’s why it is extremely important to carefully select an experienced Connecticut Medical Misdiagnosis Lawyer to handle your claim.
For decades, victims of negligent misdiagnosis across Connecticut have chosen an experienced Connecticut Medical Misdiagnosis Lawyer from Wocl Leydon Personal Injury Attorneys to represent them in complex medical malpractice claims. To discuss your potential misdiagnosis claim with one of our compassionate medical malpractice attorneys, contact our law offices in Stamford or Bridgeport today for a free consultation.
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Causes of Misdiagnosis in Connecticut
The main question in medical malpractice cases is whether the doctor breached the medical standard of care. This is another term for medical malpractice or medical negligence.
Some Common Causes of Misdiagnosis Include:
- Failure to Appreciate Symptoms. A misdiagnosis can occur when a doctor fails to recognize the signs and/or symptoms of an illness or disease.
- Symptoms are Similar to Other Medical Conditions. Both major and minor health conditions can have very similar symptoms that can sometimes confuse a doctor. Doctors may fail to order additional testing if they fail to recognize the cause of the symptoms, leading to serious injury if not diagnosed in time.
- Hectic Schedules. Doctors can make mistakes due to the hectic nature of their schedules. Most doctors only spend roughly 15 minutes with each patient, which leaves little time for in-depth discussions about the patient’s condition and makes an accurate diagnosis more difficult.
Common Types of Misdiagnosis Cases We Handle
At Wocl Leydon, we handle many types of misdiagnosis claims, including:
- Cancer. A cancer misdiagnosis can lead to death or a loss of chance of survival.
- Heart Attack. Heart attacks can also be mistaken for panic attacks, indigestion, or another health issue
- Strokes. Strokes can sometimes be diagnosed as migraines, especially in younger patients
- Brain Aneurysm Diagnosis Errors
- Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis Errors
Of course, a misdiagnosis can occur at any time, in any form. If you believe that you or a loved one have suffered unnecessarily due to a negligent misdiagnosis, contact us right away.
What You Need To Prove In A Connecticut Misdiagnosis Case That You May Have
To prove a valid misdiagnosis medical malpractice case under the law, the case must have the following factors:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed. In other words, the healthcare provider must have provided medical treatment to the patient.
- The misdiagnosis violated the standard of care. Under the law, there are medical standards that are known to be acceptable and proper medical treatment. The patient has a right to assume that the doctor or other healthcare personnel will treat them according to these standards.
- Due to medical negligence, the misdiagnosis caused injury to the patient. It is not enough to prove that the standard of care was violated by healthcare personnel. It is also up to the patient to prove that their injury occurred because of negligence on the part of the doctor, nurse, or hospital.
The patient suffered damages because of this injury. Lawsuits that involve medical malpractice are often expensive and hard to litigate. Medical malpractice cases require hours of disposition and testimony from several medical experts to provide compelling evidence that the patient suffered serious damages.
Statute of Limitations in Connecticut Misdiagnosis Cases
The statute of limitations to bring a medical malpractice claim in Connecticut depends on the facts of the case. Typically, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim must be within two years of the negligent act.
If the injury was not discovered at the time of the misdiagnosis, then a patient can bring a claim for medical malpractice within two years of the date on which the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. However, medical malpractice claims cannot be brought more than three years after the date of the act. This statute of limitations applies to minors and adults.
