We rely on doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to provide appropriate care in our most vulnerable times, and while most do everything in their power to fulfill their duty to patients, mistakes happen every day. Whether from improper training, carelessness, or any number of other causes, medical mistakes can lead to complications, worsening symptoms, and even death.
One of the most common types of medical errors is the failure to diagnose, and if you are considering filing a lawsuit for a doctor’s diagnosis error or negligence, you need a Litchfield failure to diagnose lawyer by your side. The medical malpractice attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have over 100 years of combined experience fighting for patient rights and compensation after an injury caused by a negligent healthcare provider.
Diagnostic errors can prevent patients from receiving the treatments they need to address their health conditions, and some conditions can cause death or life-altering symptoms if left untreated. While many illnesses have the potential to go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, there are three types of conditions that make up the vast majority of diagnostic errors that cause serious harm to patients.
Cancers, vascular events, and infections are the three largest categories of commonly misdiagnosed or undiagnosed conditions. They make up the following percentages of diagnostic errors that lead to disability or death:
Specifically, researchers at Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality found that the 15 conditions account for close to half of serious misdiagnoses, including:
If you or a loved one has suffered a harmful medical event due to a physician’s failure to diagnose a serious condition, you may be able to recover damages from the at-fault party. Deciding to pursue a medical malpractice claim should not be taken lightly; these types of claims are challenging to navigate. Understanding Connecticut’s laws and how they could impact your Litchfield failure to diagnose claim is a beneficial first step in your pursuit of compensation.
As the injured party, you would have the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the physician or other medical professional breached the healthcare provider’s standard of care. The standard of care is the level of skill and treatment that is considered acceptable and appropriate by similar healthcare providers.
Connecticut sets a statute of limitations on most types of cases, which is the deadline by which you must initiate legal action. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your opportunity to pursue a lawsuit and obtain compensation for your injuries. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases, including failure to diagnose, is typically two years from when the injury was sustained or discovered. There are exceptions to this timeframe, and speaking to a Litchfield failure to diagnose attorney can give you a personalized timeframe for your specific case.
Failing to diagnose a medical condition can cause fatal consequences. If your loved one lost their life due to a doctor’s diagnostic negligence, you or your loved one’s estate may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical bills and funeral expenses. Wrongful death cases related to medical malpractice are incredibly challenging without guidance from an experienced advocate.
The attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have over a century of combined experience helping clients in and around Litchfield navigate cases involving failure to diagnose. We are well-versed in the legal strategies necessary to build strong cases that help injured patients recover the compensation they deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free in-person or virtual consultation with a Litchfield failure to diagnose lawyer.
