For some, going to the doctor is routine. However, for others, it is only in the rare cases one is seriously injured or is suffering from a severe ailment. No matter the reason for a visit to a doctor or medical professional, patients rely on the medical professional to properly diagnose and treat them. In many cases, this occurs without issue. However, diagnostic errors can occur, resulting in significant harm to a patient.
What is a growing cause for misdiagnoses? While it is known that doctors, like anyone else, can make mistakes, there is a concern when it is revealed that somewhere around 12 million Americans are seeking physicians and leaving with a wrong diagnosis each year. And, based on a current study, the top reason for this is bad judgment. It was found that this was the cause of 86 percent of medical malpractice claims involving misdiagnosis.
So, what is meant by bad judgment? This term is used to describe an array of knowledge gaps, inattentions, misinterpretations and implicit bias. With regards to implicit bias, this refers to a well-intending doctor allowing for their unconscious assumption to get in the way of being able to objectively gather information or assess a patient.
When a medical professional fails to properly diagnose a patient, this could result in harms suffered by a patient. This not only causes the medical condition one is currently suffering to go untreated, it could mean new medical issues for receiving the wrong treatment plan. Thus, patients should consider their personal injury options. A medical malpractice claim could be an available legal recourse. It could help hold a negligent medical professional accountable while also helping the patient recover compensation to address losses and damages suffered.
