Personal injury caused by misdiagnosis can be devastating to Oregon victims and their families. Unanswered questions and painful symptoms may last years before a proper diagnosis is given. Delayed treatment can cause permanent damage and may even result in death.
The painful side effects often associated with misdiagnosis are well known by one Eugene man. He spent 13 years wearing painful leg braces that were never necessary. Over a decade ago, the man was diagnosed with a disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth. The disease is similar to muscular dystrophy, which has no known cure. The disease eventually destroys all muscle tissue. He spent years in pain and was forced to live with the leg braces. Surgeries failed to bring the Oregon man relief. Finally, he saw a new doctor to get a second opinion. It was at that point in time he learned he had been misdiagnosed with the disease.
Unfortunately, researchers at Johns Hopkins University say misdiagnosis is not uncommon. It is the top cause of payouts in medical malpractice cases across the country. Misdiagnosis is a threat to even the most vigilant of patients. The thought of legal action is often something that never crosses one’s mind until he or she has been the victim of malpractice.
A medical malpractice claim is a way to provide compensation for victims of mistakes such as misdiagnosis. The short- and long-term consequences of misdiagnosis often result in large medical bills. It is common for patients to be prescribed unnecessary medications, undergo surgeries and seek out medical care that is not needed. The pain and other physical symptoms associated with misdiagnosis can also be costly. A victim may be required to quit his or her job due to pain and lack of mobility. A malpractice suit gives victims and their families the ability to recover compensation for the medical mistakes they have experienced.
Source: KVAL, “Man says misdiagnosis put him in leg braces for 13 years,” Dana Fulton, Oct. 11, 2013