Failure to Diagnose and Improper Diagnosis in Ohio

Examples of Diagnostic Errors

From the moment a patient arrives at a medical facility, the actions of the staff and providers can lead to errors that could potentially result in a missed or incorrect diagnosis. Some mistakes that could impact the diagnosis include:

Not taking a thorough patient history

Patient records and histories include critical information that could help providers diagnose conditions and prescribe the right medications. For instance, if a patient has symptoms that could be associated with a number of diseases but they have a family history that shows a predisposition to one, there is a strong indication that the facility should run tests for that condition. Also, if the patient is on medication, it is important to have those records so that the provider does not prescribe something that could interact with that medication. Documentation of allergies is also extremely important to avoid causing harm.

Dismissing or downplaying symptoms

Doctors may dismiss a patient’s symptoms or pain, potentially brushing them off as a complainer or assuming physical symptoms are a sign of something psychological, like depression. Such treatment seems to impact women and minority communities more often. Even women who are healthcare providers have struggled to have doctors take their symptoms seriously, sometimes leading to delayed treatment of serious conditions. One study showed that women waited, on average, 65 minutes in emergency rooms to receive pain medication while men waited just 49. They also experienced longer delays in diagnoses of cancer and autoimmune diseases and were more likely to be sent home from a hospital when they were suffering from heart attacks and strokes.

Misinterpreting diagnostic tests

Misdiagnosis may happen because a provider does not correctly interpret test results, like X-rays, MRIs, or bloodwork. In one study of patients seeking a second opinion, researchers found that only 12% of primary care diagnoses were correct, while 66% required some modifications to the diagnosis. A disturbing 20% of patients were misdiagnosed.

Failing to order necessary tests

Researchers found that 55% of misdiagnoses result from a doctor failing to order the appropriate tests. Poor judgment was to blame in many of these cases, highlighting how important it is that physicians listen to their patients and take their symptoms seriously.

Sticking to an incorrect diagnosis without considering alternatives

Doctors may diagnose a patient with a common ailment instead of investigating whether the person has something more serious. Confirmation bias – the tendency to look for information that confirms your beliefs – can make it harder for doctors to consider alternatives once they make an initial assessment. This type of error can lead to dangerous delays in treatment.