A father of a 6-year-old girl who almost died due to an alleged medical error said no parent should have to go through what his family did. His statement comes after the family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against not only the hospital and a pediatrics association, but also three doctors.
Read more: Lawsuit: Untimely diagnosis turns appendicitis into brain damage
Depending on the condition, a missed diagnosis can lead to serious complications or even death. Knowing this, it is particularly frightening to learn that the most common cause of medical malpractice claims is due to missed diagnoses.
Read more: Study: Missed diagnoses No. 1 cause of medical malpractice claims
A 2012 study found that 40,500 people die every year in the U.S. due to diagnostic errors in intensive care units. This study, among others focusing on misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis, point to a bigger issue in the medical field, one that is putting New York City patients in danger.
Read more: More needs to be done to prevent diagnostic errors
New York City women will agree that the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better. Early diagnosis means treatment can start right away, which in the long run can mean less invasive surgeries and less aggressive forms of chemotherapy than if a diagnosis is delayed.
Read more: Would BRCA testing result in earlier breast cancer detection?
Medicine and treatment has come quite a way. However, for the optimal chance of survival, it is critical patients receive a diagnosis in a timely matter. This means that a delayed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis can be the matter between life and death for a New York City resident.
Read more: Diagnostic errors a common reason for medical malpractice payouts
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