Five Most Commonly Misdiagnosed Medical Conditions in Kent

Posted Friday, May 5, 2023 by Chris Thayer

Experienced doctors have all the training and skills to diagnose injuries and illnesses accurately. But depending on the illness or injury, the medical misdiagnosis rate is as high as 35%. Some doctors rely on their instincts, which are often wrong, as opposed to diagnostic test evidence, which is rarely incorrect. Other doctors do not have solid evidence. Instead, they over-rely on nurses or other non-doctors to interpret test results.

Misdiagnosis violates a doctor’s fiduciary duty of care. This legal responsibility requires physicians to set aside all other concerns, such as work-life balance or financial profit, and only do what is best for their patients. If a breach of duty causes injury, a Kent personal injury attorney can obtain substantial compensation in court. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

*Head Injuries*Car crashes are the leading cause of head injuries. Initial head injury symptoms, such as moderate pain and general disorientation, are almost exactly like the symptoms of accident shock. Therefore, many doctors tell crash-related head injury victims they just need to go home and get some rest.

Making matters worse, many doctors rely on patient-provided information. After a car crash, adrenaline masks pain. When patients tell doctors they “feel fine,” many doctors take these patients at their word. So, they do not perform MRIs and other necessary tests.

Head injuries are degenerative. Once the symptoms worsen, usually because the brain is swelling, the symptoms are almost impossible to manage.

*Cancer*Environmental cancer, mostly toxic exposure cancer, is on the rise. Nevertheless, to many doctors, cancer is still a lifestyle or genetic condition. If a patient shows the signs of cancer, like pain and weight change, but has no lifestyle or genetic markers, many doctors immediately assume the patient has another condition.

Cancer survival rates have improved significantly since the 1990s. This improvement is mostly because of improved diagnostic techniques that allow doctors to get a fast start. Without that diagnostic fast start, the prospects of survival plummet.

*Heart Attacks*Similarly, doctors often misdiagnose heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues if the patient has no genetic or lifestyle risk factors. Furthermore, even if a doctor orders a test, heart damage is easy to miss, especially if the evaluator is not fully qualified to interpret test results.

Painless heart attacks are less obvious, causing many doctors to dismiss them as heartburn. Victims of this medical malpractice are mainly women since their heart attack symptoms are often confused with malaise or fatigue.

*Lyme Disease*Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through a deer tick bite. The disease can cause symptoms like fever, fatigue, rash, and joint pain. People may also develop eye inflammation, liver inflammation, and heart problems weeks after contracting the infection. Lyme disease mimics flu, chronic fatigue syndrome, and mononucleosis, making it hard for a doctor to diagnose this disease accurately.

Even though there is no known cure for Lyme disease, early detection can help in the treatment and management of its symptoms.

*Strokes*As mentioned, cardiovascular conditions are hard to diagnose. Many doctors assume that people under 60 do not have strokes. Doctors often misdiagnose younger patients suffering from strokes with migraines, alcohol intoxication, or vertigo. Failure to diagnose a stroke can cause a more severe and catastrophic episode.

*Connect With a Dedicated King County Attorney*Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Kent, contact Pivotal Law Group, PLLC. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start fighting for you.