Louisiana medical negligence lawyers note a study suggesting that children may be at higher risk for being misdiagnosed than adults. When a misdiagnosis of a child or adult is caused by negligence and results in injury, affected patients and their families may be eligible to seek compensation with the help of a medical malpractice attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Louisiana today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Study: One in 20 Outpatient Visits Ends in Misdiagnosis
A series of studies involving the frequency of medical misdiagnoses in the U.S. suggests that children may be at higher risk for being misdiagnosed than adults. The Atlantic tells the story of a three-year-old boy whose airway blockage was mistakenly diagnosed as severe asthma in an attempt to shine a spotlight on the far larger and increasingly common problem of medical misdiagnosis and medical negligence. One study released by the Institute of Medicine showed that about one in every 20 outpatient visits ends in misdiagnosis.
Although far less information is available regarding how often this occurs among children, a well-known medical liability insurer revealed to the news site that medical misdiagnosis is the basis of pediatrician malpractice lawsuits in about 61 percent of all cases. Additionally, some believe misdiagnosis numbers would be far higher if there was an actual system in place designed to track misdiagnoses. Many medical professionals believe misdiagnoses among children are even more common than among adults because children are unable to clearly verbalize their symptoms and are more likely to withhold information about themselves than adults, the website reported.
How Louisiana Medical Negligence Lawyers Can Help
Patients who have been injured because of a medical misdiagnosis due to the fault of a healthcare provider may be entitled to compensation. Damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of the ability to earn
- Scarring and disfigurement
If a patient dies as a result of a medical misdiagnosis, family members may be able to pursue wrongful death claims. These kinds of damages can include:
- Loss of the economic support of the loved one
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Conscious pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of the companionship of the loved one
- Funeral expenses
Victims of negligence and their families are encouraged to seek the counsel of Louisiana medical negligence lawyers to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us for More Information.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Louisiana. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you may have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Louisiana today.
