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Diagnostic Errors and Patient Risk
When someone hears the term medical error they often think of surgeries gone wrong, medication mistakes, and other serious occurrences, while overlooking the matter of diagnostic errors. If you have been harmed because of a diagnostic error, contact our experienced Orlando attorneys at (407) 712-7300 for a free case review.
A recent study found that a majority of people will experience at least one diagnostic error within their lifetime. There are three general categories of diagnostic errors:
Delayed diagnosis: An error which occurs due when adequate information is available but is not acted on in a timely manner
Missed diagnosis: An error where no diagnosis was ever made
Wrong diagnosis: An error in which an incorrect diagnosis was made prior to a correct diagnosis
The report found that the most common causes in the occurrence of these diagnostic errors included:
- Limited feedback to clinicians in regard to the accuracy of diagnoses
- An ill-designed health care work system to support the diagnostic process
- Scarce communication and collaboration patients, their families, and clinicians
- A culture that discourages transparency and disclosure of these errors, impeding any attempt to learn and improve
Diagnostic errors are more frequent than thought, and come with serious and costly risks. With complexity errors seemingly likely to worsen, the authors of the report highlight the prevention of diagnostic errors through medical education reform, along with numerous calls for change within the health care system.
If you or a loved one have suffered harm due to a diagnostic error, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Contact Colling Gilbert Wright at (407) 712-7300 for a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Orlando delayed diagnosis attorneys today!
