The failure to diagnose a disease can be one of the most frustrating and difficult experiences encountered by Oregonians. Not only does a misdiagnosis often cause further physical pain and suffering, it can be emotionally exhausting to experience symptoms for which there seems to be no answer. This sentiment is one that can be shared throughout the state by those suffering from Central Pain Syndrome.
CPS is a neurological disease that causes chronic pain. As one patient describes it, the disease causes her to feel “every sort of pain sensation known to man all at once, all day.” CPS is often caused by injuries to the brain or spine. Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and strokes are all leading causes of the disease.
Unfortunately, CPS is often undiagnosed by doctors. One doctor who specializes in the disease thinks part of the problem has been a lack of resources to understand CPS. This is little comfort to patients suffering from the disease, however, as they repeatedly are told there is nothing medically wrong with them.
CPS is just one of many diseases that is commonly undiagnosed by health professionals. The misdiagnosis of a disease can have serious consequences for the patient, including delayed treatment, physical pain and suffering or even death. Whether a misdiagnosis is due to a failure to properly test a patient or simply a failure to recognize symptoms, recovery of damages is possible in many cases. A medical malpractice claim will hold the doctor and other healthcare professionals responsible for their failure to diagnose a disease. There are time limits on filing a medical malpractice claim, however, so it’s important to speak to an experienced Oregon malpractice attorney when medically able to do so.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Central Pain Syndrome: the rare neurological disease that often goes undiagnosed,” Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington, Mar. 1, 2013