When visiting a doctor, may people fear a serious diagnosis like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease or some other significant disease or illness. However, many individuals simply trust their doctor’s diagnosis without wondering if the doctor got it wrong.
Misdiagnosis can cause patients and their families to despair, make life-altering decisions, accept dangerous medications and invasive procedures, and even suffer serious depression. It is critical to understand how to shield yourself and your loved ones against medical misdiagnosis.
A Recent Misdiagnosis Tragedy
In a story from AP The Big Story online, a clinic in Ohio falsely diagnosed numerous patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The article starts with a story about one man who knew he was losing his memory due to head trauma caused by football and boxing in his younger years. Allegedly, a local memory-loss center clinic told him that he had Alzheimer’s disease. He began teaching his son everything possible before his inevitable demise, and he even planned his own suicide for the time when he couldn’t recognize his own family.
The AP article goes on to tell about more than 50 such stories from the same clinic and the ensuing lawsuit that resulted. According to the article, the clinic did not have the proper licensure to make this type of diagnosis.
How To Avoid This Tragedy
Obviously, this type of ongoing misdiagnoses is a terrible tragedy. However, it is the type of tragedy that can be avoided with some simple steps, including:
- Check into your doctor’s credentials: In the Ohio case, the medical professional diagnosing patients with Alzheimer’s disease did not have the credentials to make that type of diagnosis or even to order the medical tests use for these diagnoses. Make sure you take the time to check into any possible doctor’s credentials.
- Get a second opinion: No single doctor has all the answers, nor is any doctor’s word infallible. Before trusting any diagnosis – especially one as serious as Alzheimer’s disease – make sure you seek the opinion of at least one other medical expert.
- Talk with an experienced attorney: If you have suffered damages from what might be medical misdiagnosis, discuss your case with an experienced attorney. Even if you’re not entirely sure whether you have a claim of medical malpractice, a knowledgeable lawyer can help assess your situation and determine whether you have a viable case.
Do not take your medical care lightly, especially when it comes to Alzheimer’s or other serious disease diagnoses. Your health and your life are too important. If you or a loved one feel as if a professional caregiver has misrepresented themselves or caused suffering due to incorrectly diagnosing your medical condition, please call Yonke Law at (816) 221-6400. It matters to us what happens to you.