Patients place their trust in doctors, relying on the skill of a physician to properly diagnose and treat an illness. When receiving a diagnosis of a life-threatening ailment, a New York patient may be more likely to agree to radical procedures to improve the chances of survival. However, if that diagnosis is incorrect, the patient may end up a victim of medical malpractice.
A woman in another state was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor. Without radical surgery to remove the affected organs, patients with such tumors typically die within five years. The woman agreed to an operation to remove her pancreas and numerous other parts of her body. Later, upon examination of the excised tissue, multiple pathologists agreed that no cancer had been present. When one of the pathologists reported the diagnostic error to the hospital’s accreditation board, he claims the hospital took retaliatory action against him.
The pathologist filed suit against the hospital for its retaliatory actions. It was only then, upon hearing of the lawsuit, that the patient learned of her misdiagnosis and the subsequent surgery that resulted in the loss of multiple organs. The doctor who made the diagnosis apparently attempted to cover her mistake by altering the patient’s records.
The 46-year-old patient has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the diagnosing doctor, the surgeon, the hospital and other entities involved in employing doctors for the medical facility. New York patients who suffer catastrophic injury from a misdiagnosis also have the right to seek legal assistance. By pursuing a successful civil action, many victims have obtained compensation for their pain and suffering.
Source: usnews.com, “Kansas Hospital Sued of Misdiagnosis Leads to Organ Removals”, Aug. 6, 2017