Misdiagnoses common for some conditions

Individuals in Kentucky who are considering a medical malpractice suit may have suffered a missed or delayed diagnosis, and it may have been for a condition that is commonly diagnosed erroneously or not at all. Conditions that are life-threatening as well as those that have a profound effect on quality of life may be misdiagnosed.

Chronic lower back pain is a quality of life issue, and while it may be due to sacroiliac joint dysfunction, this cause is rarely diagnosed. That means that people sometimes go through physical therapy and surgery when the problem is in the joint and not the spine.

Deadly conditions that may not be diagnosed properly include stroke, heart attack and blood clots. These can all occur with symptoms that are not like the usual ones with which they are associated. Blood clots can have no symptoms at all while heart attacks may be mistaken for much more benign conditions such as indigestion. Strokes and heart attacks are particularly likely to be overlooked in women patients. Another life-threatening condition that medical professionals often overlook is infections.

Conditions that may be slower moving but no less deadly and that are also frequently misdiagnosed include cancer and cardiovascular disease. Diseases such as lupus, Lyme disease and Parkinson’s can easily be misdiagnosed while some estimates say that individuals with celiac may take up to 10 years to get a proper diagnosis.

Generally, it may be necessary to prove negligence in a medical malpractice suit. Negligence would mean that a reasonable amount of care was not taken. A personal injury attorney may be of help in filing a medical malpractice claim.

Source: Mother Nature Network, “12 illnesses that are commonly misdiagnosed“, Melissa Breyer, July 18, 2014