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Is misdiagnosis considered medical malpractice?

On Behalf of | Apr 23, 2020 | Blog, Medical Malpractice

More than 30 million Americans have received a diabetes diagnosis; however, some may be surprised to discover that they’ve been misdiagnosed. New Yorkers might learn that some of the treatment plans their doctors recommended for them may not be working.

Those who have been taking their prescribed medications, eating and exercising properly could find themselves at a standstill as far as their health is concerned. They might feel frustrated and blame themselves when they could be facing a misdiagnosis.

Diabetes takes on many forms, with Type 2 being the most common. However, those who have been misdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes may be following an incorrect treatment plan that might adversely affect their health. Those who feel their current treatment plans have fallen short could seek a second opinion.

Unfortunately, the line between the various forms of diabetes can be blurred. Many symptoms are similar, and people who should have been diagnosed with another type of diabetes may get lumped in with the Type 2 category. Those misdiagnosed with Type 2 could have Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults (LADA) instead. Individuals who are being treated for Type 2 but are normal weight or underweight, are having trouble managing their symptoms even when following physician directions, need insulin treatments and have either personal or family histories of autoimmune disease could possibly have LADA instead.

Failure to diagnose diabetes properly could have a profound effect on an individual’s health, and heart disease, loss of eyesight and amputations are health issues that misdiagnosed diabetes patients may face. Therefore, it is important for patients to share any current symptoms or family history with their physicians and for doctors to do a thorough workup to lower the chances of misdiagnosis.

Misdiagnosis of any medical condition can be detrimental to one’s physical and emotional well-being. Those who believe they have received incorrect diagnoses may find themselves unable to work or take care of their loved ones. A medical malpractice attorney might be able to help a victim obtain a reasonable and fair settlement.

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