A diagnosis error related to pneumonia can have serious, even deadly consequences for a patient. If a doctor misdiagnosed pneumonia and caused you or a loved one to suffer harm, you might be entitled to compensation for your injury. Claims involving misdiagnosis can be very complex, which is why having a seasoned Rochester medical malpractice attorney on your side can make all the difference in your case.
Pneumonia is Commonly Misdiagnosed
Pneumonia is a medical condition that is typically caused by an infection that results in inflammation in the lungs. It is the second most misdiagnosed condition and can lead to readmission after a previous hospitalization. Pneumonia is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms can be very similar to other conditions such as a common cold, influenza or even an upper respiratory infection. For this reason, physicians often fail to order proper tests. While chest x-rays are the most common method of diagnosis, they can sometimes fail to sufficiently show the presence of pneumonia.
Liability in Pneumonia Malpractice Cases
If a patient is misdiagnosed with pneumonia, the doctor may be overlooking the diagnosis and treatment for the actual condition, which could be much more serious than pneumonia. In other cases, the patient may not be diagnosed with pneumonia when he or she actually has the condition, ultimately leading to worsened infection due to the absence of treatment.
If you have suffered a pneumonia misdiagnosis, you may have recourse for your injuries through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice claims are a way for injured patients to hold negligent medical professionals accountable for their mistakes and/or misconduct. Medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional deviates from the accepted standard of care for their specialty, thereby causing harm to the patient. To win a malpractice case, the plaintiff is require to prove: the medical professional owed him or her a duty of care; the medical professional breached the duty of care that was owed; and the medical professional’s breach was a direct cause of that patient’s harm.
Damages in Pneumonia Malpractice Cases
Damages in pneumonia malpractice cases depend heavily on the specific facts of the case. As such, we would only be able to determine your damages after scrutinizing the circumstances of your injury. Generally, however, victims of medical malpractice in New York may be able to recover a variety of damages including hospital bills, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, lost wages, disability and any other losses that were a direct cause of the malpractice.
Skilled Rochester Medical Malpractice Attorneys
A pneumonia misdiagnosis can have serious and long-term consequences for a patient’s health and overall well-being. If you have been injured because of a pneumonia misdiagnosis, you may be able to recover damages in your case. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Rochester misdiagnosis attorneys are committed to getting you the compensation you rightfully deserve in your case. We are here to discuss your concerns every step of the way. For a free case evaluation, please feel free to call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
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