Failure To Diagnose Celiac Disease

While many people avoid gluten for health reasons, people with celiac disease cannot consume gluten without suffering serious issues. Celiac disease can generally be managed with dietary changes, but if it goes diagnosed, a person may develop complications such as anemia, mineral and vitamin deficiencies, and gastrointestinal disorders. The failure to diagnose celiac disease, therefore, can directly cause a person to suffer harm and may be considered medical malpractice. If you were injured by your doctor’s failure to provide you with a timely and accurate celiac disease diagnosis, it would benefit you to speak to an attorney about what damages you may be able to pursue. The Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are seasoned litigators with the skills and resources needed to help you seek redress for your losses, and if you hire us, we will fight tirelessly on your behalf.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in certain grains. When individuals with celiac disease consume gluten, it causes an immune response that causes damage to the lining of the small intestine.

Diagnosing celiac disease requires a blood test to check for specific antibodies associated with celiac disease. If the blood test results are positive, an intestinal biopsy will usually be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

When a doctor fails to diagnose celiac disease, it can lead to serious issues. For example, chronic inflammation and damage to the small intestine can result in the malabsorption of essential nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamins, leading to nutritional deficiencies. This can manifest as anemia, osteoporosis, and other vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Untreated celiac disease also increases the risk of developing other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes, thyroid diseases, and certain gastrointestinal cancers.

Furthermore, undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and weight loss. It can also lead to fatigue, skin rashes, joint pain, and neurological symptoms such as headaches or peripheral neuropathy. In children, undiagnosed celiac disease can interfere with growth and development.

People harmed by the failure to diagnose celiac disease often incur significant medical expenses and face a long road to recovery. Consequently, many of them turn to a medical malpractice attorney in Baltimore to pursue damages from the responsible parties. Generally, claims of malpractice against pharmacists are based on allegations of negligence.

According to Maryland law, proving the negligence of a doctor requires the plaintiff to establish the applicable standard of care. This standard represents the level of care that a reasonable physician that specializes in the same area of medicine as the defendant would exercise in a similar situation. The plaintiff must then demonstrate that the defendant had a duty to adhere to this standard and that their actions or omissions constituted a breach of that standard. In other words, if the standard mandates that a doctor should order a biopsy after a patient’s blood test indicates they may have celiac disease and the defendant failed to do so, the plaintiff can argue that this failure violated the standard. Finally, the plaintiff must establish a causal link between the defendant's breach and the harm suffered.

Since most individuals lack personal knowledge about the training and responsibilities of doctors, it is typically necessary for the plaintiff to engage an expert who can explain to the jury or judge the applicable standard of care and demonstrate how the defendant failed to meet that standard.

People with celiac disease often have to make adjustments in their daily lives, but the condition is manageable with proper education and support. It is crucial, however, that celiac disease is identified promptly; otherwise, a person may continue to suffer debilitating symptoms. If you have suffered losses due to a doctor's reckless failure to diagnose celiac disease, it is advisable to consult a lawyer to assess your legal options. The skilled Baltimore attorneys at Arfaa Law Group know what it takes to establish liability in medical malpractice lawsuits, and if you retain our services, we will fight zealously to help you protect your interests. We regularly aid people in the pursuit of damages in medical malpractice lawsuits in Baltimore, where our office is located. You can contact us through our online form by calling us at (410) 889-1850 or to set up a confidential meeting.