When you seek medical treatment from a doctor for your illness, that doctor has a duty to provide you with the best care possible. Occasionally, though, they may make diagnostic errors that hamper your treatment and harm your health.
What can you do if your illness has been misdiagnosed? Prioritize your health as you seek answers and potential compensation for your extended suffering.
Seek a Second Opinion
Unless you are a doctor yourself, you can’t know for sure that you’ve been misdiagnosed until you seek treatment from a different physician. If your original diagnosis doesn’t sound right, or if your treatment is worsening your health, talk to another doctor about your concerns. Identify any problems you’re having with your treatment and any other symptoms that have cropped up since your potential misdiagnosis.
Request Copies of Medical Records
Start creating a paper trail of all tests, treatments, and procedures related to your medical care. Confirming that you’ve been misdiagnosed takes some detective work from you and any other doctors and attorneys with whom you confer. Having a complete record of your care will be crucial in narrowing down when and how the mistake happened.
Enlist Legal Assistance
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common factors in medical malpractice lawsuits, and for good reason—without a correct diagnosis, your health could worsen substantially over time. If your doctor diagnoses you with a serious illness after limited testing, take it as a sign to call a lawyer at your earliest convenience. An attorney who specializes in medical malpractice will help you sift through medical records, determine the nature of the error, and file a lawsuit if applicable.
If you have been misdiagnosed with an illness, there are plenty of things you can do to mitigate the harm done and seek recourse. As you consult with medical and legal experts, advocate for your health every step of the way—you deserve the correct medical care and compensation for harm already done.
Emma is a writer and editor passionate about providing accessible, accurate information. Her work is dedicated to helping people of all ages, interests, and professions with useful, relevant content.