Improper Differential Diagnosis

Proper differential diagnosis is a cornerstone of quality medical care. This process involves systematically ruling out potential causes of a patient's symptoms through tests, exams, and medical history reviews until the correct diagnosis is determined. When this procedure is not followed, it can result in an improper differential diagnosis, where a critical illness is either misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all, delaying necessary treatment. The oversights and errors that lead to an improper differential diagnosis often constitute medical malpractice, and people harmed by such mistakes may be owed damages. If you or a loved one were hurt by an incorrect differential diagnosis, it is wise to talk to an attorney about your options as soon as possible. The Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are practiced at gathering the evidence needed to demonstrate that negligent healthcare providers should be held accountable for the harm they cause, and if you engage our services, we will zealously pursue any compensation you may be able to recover.

A differential diagnosis involves considering all possible conditions that could be causing a patient's symptoms and narrowing them down to reach the proper cause of the patient’s illness. Physicians should begin by gathering a thorough medical history, conducting a physical examination, and ordering appropriate diagnostic tests. Each possible condition should be carefully evaluated and ruled out, with the most serious potential diagnoses being considered first. When this process is performed incorrectly or inadequately, it can lead to an improper differential diagnosis, which may delay the identification of a critical condition.

The failure to conduct a proper differential diagnosis can have severe consequences for patients. An improper differential diagnosis often results in a delay in treatment, which can cause the patient’s condition to worsen. In many cases, this delay can reduce the effectiveness of treatments, complicate recovery, or even lead to a patient’s death. For instance, if a cancer is misdiagnosed as a benign condition, the cancer may progress to a stage where it becomes untreatable. Similarly, failing to diagnose a serious infection could result in sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

Patients who suffer harm due to an improper differential diagnosis may be entitled to seek compensation for their injuries. Generally, they will do so via negligence claims asserted in a medical malpractice lawsuit. In Maryland, to demonstrate a defendant healthcare provider’s negligence, a plaintiff must first demonstrate that the defendant owed them a duty and that the defendant’s omissions or actions should be considered a breach of the duty owed. The duty healthcare providers owe their patients, which arises out of the treatment relationship, is to abide by the applicable standard of care, which is the level of care a competent practitioner working in the same specialty as the defendant would deem appropriate in a similar situation. Any behavior that departs from the standard of care should be considered a breach.

The plaintiff then must connect the defendant’s breach to their ultimate losses. In other words, they must prove that the defendant’s mistake directly caused them to suffer measurable damages. While the defendant’s actions do not have to be the sole cause of the plaintiff’s harm, they must be a significant factor in bringing it about.

Most plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases will need to rely on expert testimony to establish the standard of care, show how the defendant failed to uphold the standard and prove causation. A plaintiff who adequately demonstrates a defendant’s fault may be granted compensation for their economic losses, including medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, and lost wages, and for their intangible harm, like suffering, pain, and mental and emotional distress.

If you or a loved one were injured by an improper differential diagnosis, you could be owed compensation, and you should speak to an attorney about what claims you may be able to pursue. The skillful Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group are committed to helping people harmed by the carelessness of healthcare providers seek compensation for their losses, and if we represent you, we will argue aggressively on your behalf. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we regularly represent injured parties in medical malpractice lawsuits throughout the city. You can contact us to arrange a meeting by calling us at 410-889-1850 or using our online form.