We rely on medical care from licensed professionals to properly diagnose our injuries or illnesses and provide necessary treatment. However, doctors and hospitals can be wrong in their assessments and may misdiagnose a person’s medical condition. The consequences of a misdiagnosis can be severe, including extended pain and delayed medical care.
Our Columbia misdiagnosis lawyer represents clients in cases against doctors who breach their standard of care to patients. Whetstone Perkins & Fulda has a long history of helping clients pursue maximum compensation for damages from medical malpractice. Contact our office today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our compassionate medical malpractice attorneys.
What is Diagnostic Medical Malpractice?
A medical misdiagnosis generally occurs in one of two different forms. A healthcare provider may diagnose a patient with the wrong medical condition or fail to diagnose a patient’s medical condition altogether. A misdiagnosis can occur for a variety of reasons involving a doctor’s fault or neglect. For example, the following issues in your healthcare could potentially establish a diagnostic malpractice claim:
- Failing to gather intake on a patient’s medical history, family medical history, or symptoms
- Not ordering diagnostic tests or imaging scans
- Misinterpreting the results of a diagnostic test
- Failing to seek follow-up care for a patient
- Ignoring a patient’s symptoms
- Not referring a patient to a specialist
A common sign of misdiagnosis is a lack of improvement or change in your health that does not align with the doctor’s prognosis. You may also notice sudden changes in your diagnosis, or the doctor may seek new diagnostic testing in the course of your care. If you have doubts about a potential misdiagnosis in Columbia, our malpractice attorneys are here to help. We could review your medical file and consult with independent medical professionals to evaluate a possible malpractice claim.
How Long Do You Have To File a Medical Malpractice Claim?
You generally have three years to file a medical malpractice claim pursuant to South Carolina Code § 15-3-545. The filing period begins on the date a patient discovered or should reasonably have discovered the misdiagnosis. However, this cannot be more than six years from the date the doctor breached the standard of care and caused the misdiagnosis. Additionally, the filing deadline may be as short as two years in cases involving a medical provider associated with a government entity. Your Columbia attorney could explain the filing deadline in your diagnostic error case.
Compensation Available for Misdiagnosis Damages
The damages from your misdiagnosis can greatly vary based on the nature of your medical condition. For example, you may incur greater medical expenses or suffer from the side effects of an unnecessary treatment. A misdiagnosis could also delay proper treatment for your condition, which could affect prognosis outcomes. In extreme cases, an otherwise treatable condition could become fatal due to misdiagnosis. Our Columbia lawyers use their experience and skill in medical malpractice claims to pursue compensation for all related damages from a misdiagnosis. We could help you seek compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Medical care costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Other losses to the quality and enjoyment of life
However, South Carolina limits the non-economic damages a patient can recover in medical malpractice claims under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-32-220.
Contact a Columbia Malpractice Attorney About Your Misdiagnosis Claim
Medical malpractice claims based on a misdiagnosis depend on the information a doctor relied on or should have obtained to diagnose a patient. Our Columbia misdiagnosis lawyer could help you identify neglect or wrongdoing in your medical care and seek full compensation for the resulting damages. Contact Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today to schedule your free case consultation.
