One prominent study suggested that 10 to 20 percent of all diagnoses are delayed, missed or incorrect. Some experts estimate that approximately 500,000 missed opportunities for an accurate diagnosis occur every year in the U.S. Other estimates, like those in a study published in BMJ Quality & Safety journal, say that 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year.
Researchers behind the BMJ study believe that half of those misdiagnoses carry the potential to cause patients serious harm, which means that 6 million patients are given a dangerous misdiagnosis each year.
If you assume that a misdiagnosis is most likely when the condition being diagnosed is a rare disease, you’d be wrong. Misdiagnosis of common conditions is widespread in our healthcare system. As we’ll see, a “common” condition isn’t a benign condition. From cancer to congestive heart failure, these conditions can be serious, and their misdiagnosis can be financially and physically costly.
Why Doctors Misdiagnose Common Conditions
Several studies have sought to understand why misdiagnoses happen. Researchers cite reasons ranging from negligent behavior on behalf of physicians to systemic problems in our current healthcare industry.
Doctors, particularly those in primary care settings, have brief encounters with patients and sometimes draw quick conclusions about what condition the patient might have. Even in these brief encounters, breakdowns can occur. This includes mistakes made while taking a patient’s medical history, during examination, and/or during the ordering of diagnostic tests for further considerations.
Examples of Common Conditions that are Misdiagnosed
Any condition can be misdiagnosed if the symptoms don’t match what a doctor commonly associates with it. But, in some cases, a simple follow-up exam or a brief amount of time investigating a condition would dramatically reduce the possibility of a misdiagnosis.
Research suggests that these conditions are commonly misdiagnosed by doctors:
- Anemia
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Congestive heart failure
- Acute renal failure
- Cancer
- Urinary tract infection.
While these conditions are common, it’s worth noting that they are also serious. A misdiagnosis of any of the conditions listed above could lead to a worsening of the condition, permanent injury, and even death.
The Effects of a Misdiagnosis on a Patient’s Life
Many patients who are wrongfully diagnosed won’t know that their doctor got it wrong until long after the diagnosis was made. By that point, their condition might have become considerably worse or an even more harmful condition might have resulted.
A missed, delayed or wrongful diagnosis poses a number of challenges for a patient. The most immediate impact is the effect on their health. The financial impact can also be devastating. Not only has the patient paid for care that proved to be, at best, inaccurate and, at worst, harmful, they then must face medical expenses for care that remedies the conditions stemming from the wrong diagnosis.
If a patient is fortunate enough to have good health insurance, some of the financial impact might be endured. But even those of us with minor health problems and solid insurance plans are often shocked by how little our insurance covers. A survey in 2018 found that nearly half of insured individuals – both those with employer-based plans and privately purchased plans – were surprised by the high costs of their healthcare.
Anyone who has had the unfortunate experience of suffering a serious medical condition can testify to the incredible burden their condition has on their personal finances. Often, the conditions also reduce their ability to do their jobs, which impacts their income and makes meeting the demands of medical expenses even greater.
What Can a Misdiagnosed Patient Do If They Have Suffered Great Harm
First, it’s vital that a patient seek tests and treatments for their condition. A patient might consider seeing another doctor, if possible, and not the one that originally misdiagnosed them. Second opinions are a useful tool for patients to mitigate the possibility of being harmed by a misdiagnosis, but they are also, unfortunately, a luxury which many individuals cannot afford.
If a patient suffers significant harm from a missed, delayed or inaccurate diagnosis, they can also consider their legal options. If medical malpractice was the cause of a misdiagnosis, the patient can seek payment for the costs they’ve incurred.
The first step a patient should take when considering their legal options is finding a qualified, experienced medical malpractice trial attorney who offers free consultations.
