Tireless Advocacy for Your Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Most medical mistakes involve direct harm to the patient as a result of a physician’s negligence during a procedure; for example, when a surgeon uses an unsanitary scalpel and causes a dangerous infection. However, there are also many ways that a doctor can cause indirect harm to a patient, such as in the case of delayed or misdiagnosis. If a physician does not take prompt action to correctly diagnose your condition, you could sustain severe, life-altering injuries as a result of their delay.
While all delayed diagnosis claims come with unique considerations, our medical malpractice lawyers at Cullan & Cullan are up to the challenge. As practicing lawyers who also have advanced medical degrees, we understand exactly how to navigate complex malpractice cases and advocate for our client’s needs. It’s our goal to secure the fair restitution you deserve in the wake of a devastating delayed diagnosis, and with years of experience, we’ll work tirelessly on your behalf.
Contact Cullan & Cullan at (602) 900-9483 or contact us online today for more information.
Defining Delayed Diagnosis
As a type of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis is incredibly common. In fact, one study estimated that 20% of all patients who suffer from a serious condition will be misdiagnosed at first or experience other errors related to diagnostics. Like other forms of misdiagnosis, diagnosis delays are more likely to result in life-threatening injuries and death when the patient is suffering from one of the “big three” medical events: Cancer, a heart condition, or an infection.
Common causes of delayed diagnosis:
- Poor internal communication at the hospital or healthcare facility
- Failure to perform an in-depth consultation with the patient
- Lack of adequate screening when patients are admitted
- Defective or failing medical equipment
- Overcrowding at the facility
- Inadequate physical exam
- Errors in the patient record management system
Of course, serious medical conditions often take a long time to develop and manifest. If it is not possible for a doctor to provide a correct diagnosis at the time of your admission, then they cannot reasonably be considered negligent under the law. In order to have a delayed diagnosis lawsuit, you need to show that your physician, nurse, or surgeon violated the “standard of care” in failing to get you a prompt and timely diagnosis.
In medical malpractice, the “standard of care” is defined as the medical treatment you could expect to receive from a provider with the same background in similar circumstances. Although some delays in the medical process may be justified, diagnostic delays caused by a doctor’s negligence may entitle you to receive compensation – provided that you sustained serious injuries as a result.
Why Choose Our Firm?
At Cullan & Cullan, we are proud to have won over $350 million for injured clients and their families. With a history of record-setting verdicts, a deep connection to our community, and advanced medical degrees, our Phoenix delayed diagnosis lawyers can carefully examine your case and determine whether negligence played a role. By getting to the heart of a diagnostic error or delay, we can craft a compelling case strategy and seek to maximize your compensation in a lawsuit.
Ready to schedule a free consultation? Call (602) 900-9483 today.