Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Cleveland OH Misdiagnosis is a common type of medical malpractice, but not all misdiagnoses are the result of negligence. To constitute malpractice, the misdiagnosis must result from underassessment, under-testing or misinterpretation of test results that falls below acceptable standards of medical care. I was thinking about misdiagnosis cases as I read [...]
Improper dosing of anticoagulation can result in stroke, pulmonary embolism, bleeding, or death. Despite the great risk, a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) shows that underdosing and overdosing of newer blood thinner medications is rampant. The study focused on the use of novel direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such [...]
I have previously written about misdiagnosis of stroke on this blog. When stroke is not timely diagnosed, the patient misses out on time-sensitive treatments that can preserve brain tissue, such as tPA (a “clot buster” medication) or thromboembolectomy (where a blood clot is removed through a surgical procedure). However, in many circumstances, blood clots that [...]
Misdiagnosis of stroke in younger adults is likely to be a growing problem as the rate of ischemic stroke in this population continues to increase. A study published this month in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that, while overall stroke rates have declined, strokes among individuals aged 25-44 increased by 44% during [...]
Misdiagnosis of mesenteric ischemia typically has catastrophic implications for the patient. Time is of the essence with this condition; delayed diagnosis can mean death or serious damage to vital organs. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a review this month detailing the causes, symptoms and treatment for this condition which accounts for as [...]
Prompt diagnosis of cancer, such as urinary cancer, is critical to optimizing the outcome. As cancer grows, the likelihood of spread, or metastasis, increases. Once cancer spreads from an early treatable stage to an advanced stage, the likelihood of cure diminishes. Depending on the type of cancer, an advanced stage may markedly reduce the chance [...]
Diagnosis of heart attacks in the Emergency Room has been made easier by a study recently published by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The study recommends following an algorithm to rule in or rule out a heart attack within one hour of a patient arriving at the ER with symptoms or signs that [...]
Medical negligence claims often arise from a delay in diagnosis of cancer. These types of claims involve a number of scenarios, including the following: (1) failure of a physician to properly screen a patient for certain cancers based on screening guidelines; (2) ignoring signs or symptoms of cancer; (3) misinterpretation of test results; (4) miscommunication [...]
The Internet Journal on Family Practice recently published a study titled The 5 Most Common Misdiagnoses: A Meta-Analysis of Autopsy and Medical Malpractice Data. The study reports that one of the most common misdiagnoses is infection. Pulmonary embolism and heart attack were the next most prevalent conditions that were likely to be misdiagnosed. The study [...]
Strokes (also known as brain attacks, ischemic attacks, cerebral vascular accidents or CVAs) are a major source of death and disability in the U.S. The American Stroke Association and the American Heart Association have taken great strides to educate Americans about the signs of an ischemic attack, so that patients can promptly avail themselves of time-sensitive [...]