Top Five Diseases That Are Commonly Misdiagnosed

Imagine being sent home from the emergency room with a diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disorder, only to find out later that you suffered a heart attack. This scenario happens at an alarming rate across the country. However, misdiagnosed heart attacks aren’t the only problem within the medical community. Patients frequently suffer from potentially life-threatening diseases that are misdiagnosed.

An article posted on CNN.com, titled, “Five Common Misdiagnosed Diseases,” brought to light the seriousness of misdiagnosis cases. The article begins with the story of John Ritter, an actor who died in 2003 from an aortic dissection. His widow settled a wrongful death claim against the California hospital, claiming Ritter had been misdiagnosed at least two times.

According to medical experts, there are certain ailments that appear to be misdiagnosed continuously. Many of these diseases can be fatal. The following is a list of the top five misdiagnosed diseases based on malpractice cases and autopsy reports.

Aortic dissection
Cancer
Clogged arteries
Heart attack
Infection

While the thought of being the victim of misdiagnosis seems terrifying, the good news is that you can take action to prevent this form of medical malpractice. Don’t be afraid to ask for more tests to confirm your diagnosis; doing so could save your life. If you are not sure about your diagnosis, consider other possibilities. What else could be causing your symptoms? Be sure to ask your doctor if it could be something more serious than his or her original diagnosis.

Also, just because you don’t hear anything back regarding your lab tests, don’t assume everything is fine. Sometimes test results are misplaced or forgotten. Always follow up to find out the results of any medical tests that are conducted.

If you or a loved one has been injured from a wrong diagnosis, you may be able to hold the doctor who was treating you responsible. Contact a Long Island medical malpractice attorney at the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 today for legal advice.