When people in Connecticut who are suffering from a medical issue go to a doctor or hospital, there is a natural belief that they will receive an accurate diagnosis, and be given the correct medication or provided other methods of dealing with the problem. Most importantly though, they believe they will get better. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Misdiagnoses are common, which can lead to a worsened medical condition, even death.
The Mayo Clinic states that almost 88 percent of people who receive a second opinion are given a different diagnosis. The study examined 286 patients at the Mayo Clinic in 2009 and 2010. When the initial diagnosis was compared to the later diagnosis, 12 percent were shown to be accurate. But, 21 percent were changed completely, and 66 percent had a different or new diagnosis.
Researchers believe there are several factors that influence the misdiagnoses. There is a limit to the referrals because insurance networks want to restrain costs. The primary physician might also be overconfident in their ability to diagnose certain symptoms, when it would be preferable to get a second opinion from an expert.
The researchers believe that there should be greater attention paid to the number of mistakes, and take steps to reduce them. The researchers were troubled by the high rate of misdiagnoses, as well as the number of patients who are likely not being referred when they should be.
In many instances, a person is harmed by these errors. This can lead to massive medical costs, a longer stay in the hospital, exacerbated health issues and even death. To understand what happened and why, it takes expertise in being able to recognize a doctor error. To have a full investigation into medical malpractice, it is essential to call an attorney and discuss the matter as soon as possible. A lawyer can garner evidence and assess the case in preparation for a lawsuit.
Source: upi.com, “Study finds more than 20 percent of patients are misdiagnosed,” Amy Wallace, April 4, 2017
