Unfortunately, the practice of medicine is not an exact science. Each person’s symptoms are unique, and the onset of conditions are different for each individual. Doctors must follow certain steps and protocols to avoid common medical malpractice mistakes.
Some conditions are more difficult to diagnose than others, often leading to many symptoms falling through the cracks.
Why lupus open goes misdiagnosed
Lupus is a condition that doctors often misdiagnose. Physicians often confuse this autoimmune disorder with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. Correct testing and imaging can help doctors properly diagnose the disease.
Reasons why doctors misdiagnose Parkinson’s disease
Doctors often misdiagnose the leg, arm and hand tremors, muscle stiffness and balance issues that patients experience as something other than Parkinson’s disease. It’s not uncommon for physicians to mistake this debilitating neurological condition for possible tumors, head trauma, stress, a stroke or Alzheimer’s disease instead. While there aren’t any lab tests that can detect Parkinson’s, doctors can generally hone in on this diagnosis by performing a thorough clinical examination of a patient.
Why doctors often misdiagnose fibromyalgia
Sometimes, patients suffer from widespread pain, chronic arthritis, debilitating fatigue and depression or anxiety, all of which are symptoms of fibromyalgia. Doctors often incorrectly diagnose these patients as having rheumatoid arthritis or chronic fatigue syndrome instead. While there isn’t any lab testing to prove that a patient has fibromyalgia, doctors can perform a pain sensitivity examination to hone in on an accurate diagnosis.
How misdiagnoses injure patients
Patients who receive the wrong diagnosis may end up receiving an incorrect medication or delayed treatment, both of which can cause a remarkable deterioration in their medical condition or even their death. You owe it to yourself to hold a negligent medical provider accountable for the pain and suffering they caused you via a misdiagnosis so that they’ll be much more cautious when dealing with their next patient.
