Why medical conditions aren’t properly diagnosed

If you have been improperly diagnosed by a doctor or other emergency room professional, you may have been the victim of medical malpractice. A failure to diagnose your malady in a timely manner may lead to a worsened condition, and whoever came up with the wrong diagnosis may be liable for damages. While any condition can be misdiagnosed, there are some that are more difficult than others for doctors to get a handle on.

Chest and abdominal pain can be signs of serious conditions

Chest or abdominal pain should be considered a symptom of a potentially larger problem as opposed to a diagnosis in itself. For instance, chest pain could be caused by a heart attack or a sore muscle. It could also be caused by heartburn or because you bruised or broke a rib playing football. Abdominal pain can be caused by an ulcer, a kidney stone or food poisoning. A doctor can learn more about what the possible cause is by asking questions such as whether you are vomiting or having trouble going to the bathroom.

Women may experience less traditional heart attack symptoms

Medical professionals typically associate chest pain and numbness in the left arm as telltale signs of a heart attack. However, women who are having a heart attack could experience back pain, jaw pain or excessive fatigue. Other signs that a female is having a heart attack include indigestion, sweating and vomiting.

Common reasons why medical conditions are misdiagnosed

A doctor who is overwhelmed by the number of patients that he or she has to see at one time could increase the risk that your condition will be inadequately diagnosed. A lack of experience may also result in medical conclusions that don’t match the facts that you present to your doctor.

If you have been misdiagnosed or are not diagnosed in a timely manner, you could be a victim of medical malpractice. An attorney might be able to help you obtain a financial award to make up for lost wages or other damages incurred.