New York fans of Robin Williams may have heard that after the actor’s death, an autopsy revealed that he suffered from a condition called Lewy Body Dementia. It is caused by a buildup of protein deposits in the brain, but due to the nonspecific nature of its symptoms, it is often misdiagnosed. This was the case with Williams, who was misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three months before his death.

New York physicians and patients may be surprised at recent changes to the breast cancer screening standards recommended by the American Cancer Society. The announcement has received varying reactions related to the changes. For example, the society now recommends that women over the age of 55 receive mammograms every two years. Those who have average risk factors from ages 40 to 44 are not advised to obtain mammograms. Further, the society indicates that breast exams performed by physicians are not necessary.

According to a new series of medical studies, women with inguinal hernias are often misdiagnosed. The findings, which were spearheaded by a surgeon specializing in hernia repairs, could lead to better treatments for female hernia patients in New York and nationwide.

Although a serious problem in the health care industry, diagnostic errors do not receive a lot of attention. According to the Institute of Medicine, more attention is needed because delayed diagnoses and misdiagnoses could mean that the patients receive wrong or unnecessary treatments, which cause them financial, physical and psychological harm. Due to this, some patients in New York might want to be aware of their risk of being misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late.