Misdiagnosis Lawsuit Attorney in Los Angeles

Medical Malpractice Claims for Misdiagnosis

Being misdiagnosed by your doctor can lead to devastating results. When misdiagnosed, patients are deprived of needed treatment for their condition and may also be treated with harmful interventions for conditions they don’t have.

When a misdiagnosis leads to patient harm, victims and families may be able to recover compensation for their damages by bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the responsible provider(s).

At Bostwick & Peterson, LLP, we’re known for winning tough medical negligence claims. Our attorneys can review your case and discuss what we can do to help.

• We’ve broken the CA state record for largest malpractice recovery twice since 2018.
• We’ve won over $1 billion in compensation for clients.
• Our attorneys are named among The Best Lawyers in America.
• James S. Bostwick is a Certified Medical Malpractice Specialist.

Discuss your potential case and how our Los Angeles misdiagnosis lawyers can help. Consultations are FREE and there is no cost to hire. Because we work on contingency, there’s no fee unless we win.

What is Misdiagnosis?

Misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional incorrectly identifies a disease or condition, leading to a wrong or delayed treatment. This can happen due to various reasons, such as:

1. Inaccurate or incomplete patient history – Missing important details from the patient about their symptoms, lifestyle, or medical history.
2. Similar symptoms – Conditions with overlapping symptoms may confuse the healthcare provider.
3. Tests or imaging errors – Sometimes lab tests or imaging scans are misinterpreted, leading to the wrong diagnosis.
4. Lack of experience or knowledge – A healthcare provider may not be familiar with certain rare conditions or may overlook possible diagnoses.
5. Communication issues – Inadequate communication between healthcare providers or with the patient can contribute to the mistake.

Negligence in misdiagnosing a patient can take many forms. Examples include:

• Failing to perform a full patient examination
• Failure to perform a differential diagnosis
• Incorrect lab tests or interpretation errors
• Failure to order necessary tests
• Misdiagnosed heart attack or cardiac condition
• Misdiagnosed infection or complication
• Misdiagnosing a serious condition for a minor ailment
• Failure to diagnose
• Misdiagnosing cancer

Adverse Effects of Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis can have significant adverse effects on both the patient and the overall healthcare system. Some of the key consequences include:

• Incorrect or Delayed Treatment – A misdiagnosis may result in the patient receiving the wrong treatment, leading to ineffective care. Alternatively, not receiving the correct treatment in time can cause the condition to worsen.
• Physical Harm – Incorrect treatments, such as the wrong medication or surgery, can lead to harmful side effects or complications. In some cases, unnecessary procedures may result in injury or damage to the patient’s organs or tissues.
• Psychological Impact – Being misdiagnosed can cause stress, confusion, and emotional distress, as patients may feel they are not being properly cared for. This can lead to anxiety and depression, especially when treatment doesn't improve their symptoms.
• Financial Burden – Misdiagnosis often leads to unnecessary tests, treatments, or medications, increasing the patient's medical expenses. These added costs can put a financial strain on the patient, especially if the actual condition is discovered too late.
• Missed Opportunity for Early Intervention – Early diagnosis of a condition often leads to better treatment outcomes, but misdiagnosis can delay proper care. As a result, the patient may lose the chance for timely intervention that could have prevented complications.
• Loss of Trust in Healthcare – Patients who experience misdiagnosis may lose faith in their healthcare providers or the system itself. This can lead to reluctance in seeking medical help in the future, impacting overall health management.
• Worsening of the Original Condition – A misdiagnosis can prevent the original condition from being treated properly, causing it to progress. The longer the condition remains untreated or improperly treated, the more serious the health consequences become.
• Legal Consequences – Misdiagnosis can lead to lawsuits from patients or their families seeking compensation for the harm caused. This not only leads to financial penalties for the healthcare provider but also damages their professional reputation.

Compensation for Medical Misdiagnosis

When patients are injured by negligent health care providers, they have the right to bring medical malpractice actions to hold them responsible. Our team at Bostwick & Peterson has handled malpractice claims for decades and knows how to investigate these claims and prove negligence.

While a personal review of your case is needed to determine if you have grounds to bring legal action, the general issue in misdiagnosis claims is proving whether a provider failed to act in a manner expected of a reasonably skilled provider in their field under the same or similar circumstances.

It is important to pursue legal action against the responsible parties. Doing so sends a message to health care providers that they are obligated to meet the standard of care. A successful claim can also help victims recover compensation for:

• Lost wages and future earnings
• Past and future medical expenses
• Loss of quality of life
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium / companionship
• Other damages.

Seeking compensation from the medical professionals responsible for your losses may be the only way to cover the cost of your bills and making up for your lost wages. An experienced attorney from our team can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you have questions about a misdiagnosis lawsuit, contact us at (213) 519-5636 for a FREE consultation.