According to a recent Johns Hopkins study, diagnostic errors account for one-third of severe harm medical malpractice claims—making diagnostic errors one of the leading sources of medical malpractice. Studies have found that many factors contribute to increased diagnostic errors. Poor teamwork or communication between medical professionals, limited access to diagnostic tests, and inadequate training all increase the likelihood of diagnostic errors in primary care. Mistakes in diagnoses are often preventable, and frequently result in serious harm to misdiagnosed patients. Our Laredo medical malpractice attorneys at Carabin Shaw have compiled information on the most common medical diagnostic errors. Read on to learn what our attorneys serving Laredo want you to know, and to find out what to do if you’ve suffered from medical malpractice in Laredo.
Most Common Causes of Diagnostic Errors 1. Mistakes Regarding Patient Medical HistoryMany diagnostic errors are caused by mistakes made by doctors when either capturing or reviewing a patient’s medical history, according to our expert Laredo medical malpractice attorneys. All too often, a patient’s medical records are not transferred in full between medical providers, leaving doctors with incomplete or inadequate information to go off of. And if the medical records transferred between physicians are incomplete, doctors will not have the correct information needed in order to correctly diagnose and treat their patients.
2. Cognitive ErrorsCognitive errors are another leading cause of diagnostic mistakes. Doctors are frequently required to keep patient interactions brief, and are required to make quick decisions—and this raises the likelihood of cognitive errors occurring. The most common cognitive error that results in misdiagnosis is called “premature closure,” which occurs when a doctor fails to consider reasonable alternative diagnoses once they have settled on their initial diagnosis.
3. Poor Communication Between the Doctor and PatientAnother leading cause of diagnostic mistakes involves doctor/patient communication. If patients don’t accurately describe their symptoms to the doctor diagnosing them, it is highly likely that they will end up with the wrong diagnosis. That’s why it is so crucial for Laredo doctors to know what questions to ask when talking with their patients in order to prevent medical malpractice in Laredo.
Have You Suffered as a Result of a Diagnostic Error? Speak With An Attorney TodayIf you’ve suffered an illness or injury that was either caused or worsened by an incorrect diagnosis, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. To find out whether or not your misdiagnosis actually constitutes medical malpractice, you will need to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney who specializes in medical malpractice. However, you should know that not all Laredo hospital negligence attorneys are equally qualified. When choosing a lawyer, you will need someone who has a winning track record, a strong professional reputation, trial experience (in the event that your case ends up going to trial), and enough resources to take on a malpractice lawsuit.
Fortunately, our lawyers at Carabin Shaw meet all these criteria and more. Our team has a combined 200 years of legal experience, and we’ve been serving Texans for more than two decades. We’ve recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our satisfied clients, and we can help you maximize the value of your medical malpractice claim. So if you’re looking for a lawyer after experiencing medical malpractice in Laredo, you should look no further than the offices of Carabin Shaw.
We offer all new clients a free, no obligation consultation—so you have nothing to lose by giving us a call today. To schedule your free consultation with one of our Laredo medical malpractice attorneys, call our Laredo office today at (956) 333-3333.