St. Petersburg Failure to Diagnose Lawyer
When you visit a doctor or hospital in St. Petersburg, you trust that your healthcare provider will properly evaluate your symptoms, run the right tests, and arrive at an accurate diagnosis. A timely and correct diagnosis is critical for getting you on the path to recovery. But when doctors fail to diagnose a serious medical condition, the consequences can be life-altering and even deadly. If you suffered harm due to a diagnostic error, the experienced St. Petersburg medical malpractice attorneys at Gunn Law Group are here to help. We have a proven track record of holding negligent doctors and hospitals accountable and fighting for the full and fair compensation our clients deserve.
The Dangers of Diagnostic Errors
Diagnostic mistakes are among the most common and harmful medical errors. Some studies estimate that up to 20% of patients are misdiagnosed at some point. Common conditions that doctors fail to promptly and properly diagnose include:
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Sepsis and infections
- Pulmonary embolism
- Appendicitis
When a doctor fails to order the appropriate screenings and diagnostic tests, misinterprets test results, or fails to recognize telltale symptoms, patients can lose critical treatment time. Delaying diagnosis and treatment of progressive diseases like cancer allows the condition to advance unchecked, often worsening the prognosis. For acute conditions like heart attack and stroke, every minute counts, and a delay in diagnosis can cause permanent damage or death.
Proving Failure to Diagnose in St. Petersburg
Not every diagnostic error amounts to medical malpractice. To have a viable failure to diagnose claim in Florida, you must be able to prove:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed
- The doctor was negligent in diagnosing your condition
- This negligence caused you actual harm
It is not enough to show that your doctor made a diagnostic mistake or that your condition worsened. You need to demonstrate that your doctor failed to meet the medical standard of care and that a reasonably competent doctor in the same specialty would not have made the same error under the circumstances.
Proving a failure to diagnose case requires an in-depth analysis of your medical records and extensive knowledge of complex medical issues. The seasoned St. Petersburg medical malpractice attorneys at Gunn Law Group regularly consult with respected medical experts to determine whether malpractice occurred and build strong cases for our clients.
Failure to Diagnose Damages
When doctors fail to promptly diagnose and treat serious medical conditions, patients can suffer additional medical complications, more invasive treatments, reduced life expectancy, considerable pain and suffering, and even loss of life. While no amount of money can undo this physical and emotional damage, Florida law allows malpractice victims to recover compensation for:
- Additional medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability and disfigurement
In the tragic event that failure to diagnose leads to the loss of a loved one, certain family members can pursue compensation for wrongful death.
Contact Our St. Petersburg Failure to Diagnose Attorneys
If you believe you have been harmed by a diagnostic error in St. Petersburg, please contact the failure to diagnose lawyers at Gunn Law Group today. We offer free case evaluations, where we will thoroughly analyze the facts of your case and advise you of your legal rights and options. Call a St. Petersburg failure to diagnose lawyer today to get started.