Misdiagnosis and Missed Diagnosis Lawyers in DuPage County

Bensenville Lawyers for Patients Injured by Negligent Diagnostic Procedures

When a doctor fails to diagnose or misdiagnoses a medical condition such as heart disease or cancer or a serious medical event such as a stroke, the patient in question could be left facing severe and possibly life-threatening consequences. If you or a loved one has suffered because of a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, a medical malpractice claim could allow you to obtain substantial compensation.

At Kaiser Law, in Bensenville, Illinois, our medical malpractice attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience, and we have served the residents of Cook County and DuPage County for over three decades. Our team realizes the effects that a delayed or missed diagnosis can have on your life, and we are prepared to help you take the necessary action to get you what you need to put your life back on track.

How Do Doctors Make Diagnostic Mistakes?

It can be extremely challenging for any medical professional to diagnose a patient's specific medical conditions. The medical community recognizes tens of thousands of infections and diseases, and many of them often have similar symptoms. Doctors are required to attend many years of formal school then train under supervision in a clinical setting to obtain the skills needed to identify and diagnose complicated medical conditions.

The lawyers at Kaiser Law realize that doctors are human, and they are not expected to be completely perfect. Even physicians who are at the top of their field make mistakes that lead to the incorrect diagnosis of a patient, but not all of these errors are caused by carelessness or negligence. Your specific symptoms, family medical history, and other factors could easily lead a fully competent doctor to make a diagnosis that is eventually proved incorrect. If other doctors with similar experience and training in the same specialty would have likely come to the same conclusion, your doctor is not likely to be found negligent, even though the diagnosis was wrong. If your physician failed to adhere to current medical standards in the process of determining your diagnosis, however, a missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis could be found to be malpractice.

Cook County Counsel for Injuries Related to a Misdiagnosis

An incorrect diagnosis or missed diagnosis can have significant negative effects on the life of the patient and that of the patient's family. A misdiagnosis could lead to problems such as:

• The patient receiving unnecessary treatment and medication
• Overly aggressive treatment protocols that may involve powerful drugs
• Treatment protocols meant to address a condition other than the patient's actual condition
• The patient not receiving any treatment, which allows the patient's condition to worsen

To illustrate the dangers of misdiagnosis, consider a patient who has been incorrectly diagnosed with a particular form of cancer. Based on the incorrect diagnosis, the patient could begin radiation treatment or chemotherapy, which both can lead to dangerous side effects. An incorrect diagnosis might also lead to unneeded surgeries, potentially leaving the patient with permanent scars and lingering health issues based on wrong information.

Perhaps even more importantly, a missed diagnosis also leaves the real problem untreated. This means that the patient's condition could get worse, possibly to a point where it becomes incurable. In extreme cases, a misdiagnosis could result in the patient's death.

Putting the Pieces Together

At Kaiser Law, we work closely with a large network of medical experts, which includes many board-certified specialists. Their insight and expertise are often critical in proving that a misdiagnosis was the result of malpractice. If your doctor did not provide the appropriate level of care, which caused you to suffer additional injuries or illness, our lawyers will do everything we can to hold your physician accountable. We will advocate on your behalf in negotiations and at trial to get you the full compensation you deserve.

Call 630-274-4400 Today

If you have questions about building a case for compensation following a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, contact our office to get the answers. Call 630-274-4400 for a free consultation with a skilled medical malpractice attorney today. Our firm serves clients throughout Cook County and DuPage County, including the communities of Addison, Elmhurst, Wood Dale, Bensenville, Franklin Park, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Niles, and Northlake.