Failure to Diagnose Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a common ailment that afflicts hundreds of thousands of people per year. Despite its prevalence, however, it often goes undiagnosed. Appendicitis usually requires emergency surgery, and when it goes untreated, it can lead to severe illness, infection, and, in some instances, death. If you sustained losses because a physician neglected to diagnose appendicitis, you could be owed compensation, and it is in your best interest to meet with an attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are skilled at aiding people harmed by the failure to diagnose appendicitis in the pursuit of damages, and if we represent you, we will work diligently to help you seek the best legal result available in consideration of the facts of your case.

Generally, people with appendicitis complain of sharp pain in the lower back, abdomen, or belly button, nausea, vomiting, and fever. They may also experience abdominal swelling, constipation or diarrhea, painful urination, and loss of appetite. When patients present with these symptoms, doctors should conduct examinations and any tests necessary to determine if the issues are caused by appendicitis. In some cases, though, they disregard patients’ complaints as being caused by bowel problems, kidney stones, or other ailments and fail to diagnose them with appendicitis.

Typically, an affected appendix is surgically removed. When an appendicitis diagnosis is missed or delayed, though, the appendix may rupture and cause infection, peritonitis, sepsis, and, in extreme cases, death. In many instances, a doctor’s failure to diagnose appendicitis constitutes malpractice. Thus, people harmed by such oversights can often recover damages via civil lawsuits against their healthcare providers.

Generally, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice claim will allege a medical negligence claim against the defendant. In Maryland, to prove negligence in the context of medical treatment, a plaintiff has to establish that the defendant had a duty to comply with the relevant standard of care, which is the treatment that a competent professional working in the same field would offer when faced with a similar scenario. The plaintiff then must prove that the defendant’s actions demonstrate a departure from the standard of care. For example, if a reasonable doctor would order blood tests when a patient presented with symptoms of appendicitis and the defendant failed to do so, it may be considered a breach of the standard. As most people lack an understanding of the duties imposed on medical professionals, expert testimony is usually needed to explain the standard and the manner in which the defendant deviated from it.

The plaintiff must also link the defendant’s behavior to the harm suffered. In other words, the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s failure to diagnose appendicitis was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s injuries and that the plaintiff would not have suffered harm absent the defendant’s behavior. This typically requires expert testimony as well.

A plaintiff that proves a defendant committed malpractice may be awarded compensation for the cost of any medical care needed after the harm occurred, out-of-pocket expenses, and, if a plaintiff could not work, lost wages. In most cases, plaintiffs that establish defendants’ liability are awarded damages for the pain, suffering, and trauma they endured as well.

Most people with appendicitis receive prompt care and recover quickly. If doctors fail to diagnose appendicitis, though, the condition will go untreated, and their patients will likely suffer harm. If you were hurt by a doctor’s careless failure to detect the signs and symptoms of appendicitis, you have the right to seek damages, and you should consult an attorney. The dependable Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group can examine the circumstances surrounding your losses and apprise you of what causes of action you may be able to pursue against the negligent health care providers who caused your damages. We have an office in Baltimore, and we represent people in the pursuit of medical malpractice claims throughout the city. You can reach us at 410-889-1850 or through our online form to schedule a meeting.