When you're sick, you rely on your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. That's the biggest hurdle to achieving a positive outcome for your condition. Unfortunately, many doctors fail to properly diagnose their patients. Although this kind of medical mistake can happen to...
What does “standard of care” have to do with a medical malpractice claim?
It’s absolutely devastating to go to a doctor or a hospital and end up worse off than before you started. In some cases, people even die from the lack of proper or timely medical treatment. Just the same, not every poor outcome is a sign of medical malpractice. One of...
Delayed response to a stroke can be fatal
Your spouse is unresponsive. You think they may be having a stroke. You get them to a hospital, where a doctor makes another diagnosis; maybe they say it’s a seizure. Is this going to cause some serious issues if the doctor is wrong? Critical care It absolutely can....
Preventing complications and death from a stroke requires rapid treatment
If you take a loved one to the emergency room because of the signs of a stroke, you expect the medical team to take your concerns to heart. Unfortunately, some medical providers don’t take their patients’ complaints seriously and may ignore serious signs of injury or...
Appendicitis: A condition that is often misdiagnosed
When appendicitis occurs, it’s a serious medical condition. In some cases, the appendix may burst, which leads to a life-threatening emergency. Appendicitis causes several common symptoms that a medical provider should be able to identify, such as: Bowel irregularity...
How often are doctors wrong?
You’re worried that you have cancer or another serious condition. Maybe you have been having trouble breathing, and you think it’s lung cancer. Maybe you have a suspicious spot on your face that could be skin cancer. Regardless, you go in and see your doctor. They...
Cancer treatments are more successful when caught early
No matter what type of cancer you have, the rule of thumb is that it is generally easier to treat -- and that treatment is often more effective -- when the cancer is caught early. There are a few reasons, starting with the size of the tumor or cancerous region...
Your risk of permanent damage increases when a doctor misses signs of a stroke
Strokes are among the most frightening and debilitating medical events a person can have. Some people experience a sudden loss of motor control, while other people have so-called silent strokes that don't present immediately obvious symptoms. When you know you have...
Misdiagnosis is common for some conditions in women
Accurate diagnosis of medical conditions is among the most important parts of a doctor's job, but misdiagnoses happen all the time in Florida and nationwide. It's a problem that can affect anyone, but women might be more likely to be misdiagnosed according to some...
Many Parkinson’s patients may be misdiagnosed
For many people in Florida, hand tremors or a shaky, stiff sensation when walking may point to signs of Parkinson's disease, the chronic, progressive neurological condition. Some people may even be diagnosed with Parkinson's on the basis of their symptoms, especially...