California residents not immune to medical malpractice concerns
Most people do not go to the doctor unless they feel that there is a significant reason for the visit, and they usually expect to get a proper diagnosis. However, medical misdiagnosis is something for which all people are at risk when they seek medical attention. Most people in California may not be aware of just how alarming the statistics are for medical malpractice cases.
A recent study of outpatient visits states that around 12 million people will be medically misdiagnosed each year. The alarming part of that number is that at least 6 million of those who are misdiagnosed will be put in a great deal of danger. The study indicates that there will be between 40,000 and 80,000 deaths as a result of doctor error and improper diagnosis.
The intended purpose of the studies on misdiagnoses may help to uncover which diseases or illnesses are wrongly diagnosed most often. Some of the most frequently misread diseases include aortic dissection, which can feel like heartburn, cancer, heart attacks and clogged arteries. All of which can cause increasingly severe damage when not diagnosed properly in the beginning stages.
Being misdiagnosed can obviously affect each person differently. In the cases of doctors’ errors, it may be beneficial for patients to obtain any information they can about their legal rights. A medical malpractice lawsuit may be a viable option for a person who has sustained severe or permanent damage after a misdiagnosis. California residents should never have to fear a possible misdiagnosis by their outpatient doctor or any doctor, but in the event that it does happen, having options is always better than the feeling of being backed into a corner.
Source: guardianlv.com, “Misdiagnosis Threatens Potentially Everyone“, Lindsey Alexander, April 20, 2014
