The failure to diagnose, or a misdiagnosis of, a serious medical condition can mean the difference between life and death. Proper diagnosis is crucial to the administration of appropriate medical treatment, and the failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis can delay or prevent necessary medical treatment or cause adverse drug reactions. The failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical malpractice.
At Cogan & Power, P.C., our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers focus on helping the victims of all types of medical malpractice, including the failure to diagnose, surgical errors, obstetrical negligence, and pharmaceutical errors, recover for their injuries and losses.
We take a collaborative approach to legal representation, providing our clients with a big-firm level of legal skill and experience while maintaining a small-firm level of client attention and service. Clients communicate directly with the firm’s partners, and we will meet with clients in their homes or healthcare facilities when it is difficult for them to travel.
Our dedicated Chicago medical malpractice attorneys are committed to protecting your legal rights and preventing future medical errors by obtaining substantial verdicts and settlements for our clients, including the following relevant results:
•$5.5 million for a two-year-old child who suffered brain damage due to a failure to diagnose and treat Reye Syndrome;
•$3.05 million for a newborn infant who suffered cerebral palsy as a result of the failure to diagnose fetal distress;
•$3.0 million for a pre-terminal patient due to the failure to diagnose colon cancer;
•$1.9 million for a man who suffered an 18-month delay in the diagnosis of lung cancer;
•$1.750 million for a girl who suffered severe nerve damage as a result of the failure to diagnose and treat anterior compartment syndrome; and
•$1.5 million for the surviving family of a woman who died as a result of the failure to diagnose chicken pox.
There are several reasons that a doctor may fail to make the proper diagnosis. Some of the more common reasons for failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis include:
•Inadequate physical examination
•Failure to perform regular screenings
•Failure to recognize indications of a potential medical problem
•Failure to heed a patient’s complaints
•Failure to order appropriate tests
•Misinterpretation of test results
•Misdiagnosis of cancerous tumor as benign
•Failure to provide adequate follow-up care
•Delayed referrals to specialists
Some misdiagnosed medical conditions are more likely to result in a medical malpractice claim than others. These medical conditions include:
Medical advancements have enabled earlier detection and treatment of diseases and medical conditions, making the failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis all the more detrimental to treatment. Patients who have been the victims of a failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis may suffer from exacerbated injuries or medical conditions, mounting medical bills, and lost wages.
Failure to Diagnose Cancer
Failure to Diagnose Disease or Medical Condition
Delayed Diagnosis
If you experienced a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose and were injured as a result, contact the Chicago diagnosis error lawyers at Cogan & Power at (312) 477-2500 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you obtain the compensation you need and deserve through a medical malpractice claim. If you cannot come to our offices in downtown Chicago, we will come to you. And because we take cases on a contingency basis, you will not pay any fee unless we get you compensation.