Alabama Diagnosis Mistake Lawyers

Healthcare professionals that fail to correctly identify an individual’s medical condition or illness in a timely manner can cause undue damage to their patients by preventing or delaying necessary treatment. If you believe you have been injured due to a diagnostic error, the Alabama diagnosis mistake lawyers with Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. can explain your legal options and help you fight for compensation to cover your losses. Call us today at (205) 933-1500 or use our online contact form to request a free consultation.

How Can a Diagnosis Mistake Lawyer Help?

Medical malpractice claims such as misdiagnosis and other diagnosis errors can be difficult to fight. Medical professionals and facilities have large insurance companies with teams of lawyers who will fight for them. You deserve someone on your side too. A diagnosis mistake lawyer can negotiate with the insurance companies, handle the legal issues, and guide you through the claims process while making sure no one takes advantage of you.

Compensation in a Diagnosis Mistake Case

If you have suffered serious harm due to a misdiagnosis by your provider or other medical error, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. With help from the skilled diagnosis mistake lawyers at Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C., you may be able to recover compensation for:

Our legal team has more than 65 years of collective personal injury experience, including a proven track record of success handling medical practice cases. We have obtained several recoveries in excess of $1 million on behalf of individuals injured by the negligence of healthcare professionals and we will aggressively advocate for the best result possible for your case.

What Is a Diagnostic Error?

Not all diagnostic errors will amount to a medical malpractice case. A missed, delayed, or incorrect diagnosis may constitute medical malpractice if:

• A physician-patient relationship existed
• The physician did not provide medical care that was consistent with an established Standard of Care
• That breach of Standard of Care resulted in injury to the patient

Diagnostic errors, which include missed, delayed, and incorrect diagnoses, often result in serious harm to patients and occur in all types of healthcare settings. In fact, David E. Newman-Toker, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, recently said in the following Washington Post article that “diagnostic errors are the most common, most costly, and most deadly of all medical errors.”

According to the National Academy of Medicine, formerly called the Institute of Medicine, the definition of a diagnostic error is the failure to “establish an accurate and timely explanation of the patient’s health problem(s) or communicate that explanation to the patient.” Not only are diagnostic errors alarming pervasive, they frequently have catastrophic outcomes for patients.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime and one in 20 patients will experience such an error every year. Based on their United States data, 56 percent of diagnostic errors occur in outpatient settings, 28 percent in inpatient settings, and 16 percent in emergency rooms.

Dangers of Diagnostic Errors

In a review of medical malpractice claims from 1986 to 2010, Johns Hopkins researchers found that diagnostic errors accounted for the largest percentage of medical error claims, involved the most severe patient harm, and generated the highest claim payouts. The study also revealed that the majority of diagnostic error claims were based on missed diagnoses. Autopsy studies have found that anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 people die annually because of misdiagnoses, according a The Washington Post article. Approximately half of these deaths could have been successfully treated had the condition been diagnosed while the person was still alive.

Diagnostic Process

Getting an accurate and timely diagnosis depends on effective teamwork among various medical providers and the proper use of diagnostic tests, such as imaging. Generally, the diagnostic process involves multiple stages including:

Depending on the nature of the condition, it may be necessary for patients to be referred to a specialist for further testing, diagnosis, or treatment.

Common Types of Diagnostic Errors

Errors can occur throughout the diagnostic process, from the initial information gathering to the interpretation of test results. These medical mistakes are a major threat to patient safety and are largely preventable.

Here are some of the most common types of diagnostic errors:

Resources If You Suspect a Diagnostic Error

If you think that a medical professional has diagnosed you incorrectly or missed your diagnosis, you should contact an Alabama medical malpractice attorney right away. You will want to gather evidence as quickly as possible before it disappears. Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. can help protect your rights and begin an independent investigation quickly.

If you need a second opinion by a medical expert for a cancer diagnosis or other major medical problem, you can contact UAB Medicine HealthFinder at (205) 801-9034 or use their online form to request an appointment.

Our Diagnosis Mistake Lawyers Can Help

If you or a loved one were injured in a devastating accident, call the medical malpractice lawyers at the law firm of Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. at (205) 933-1500 or use our online form. We offer a free case evaluation and are ready to help you obtain full compensation for your losses. With law offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery, our diagnostic mistake lawyers will quickly travel to investigate your case.