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Misdiagnosis Attorney in Roanoke

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional provides treatment that deviates from the standard of care acceptable within the medical community. Malpractice incidents like misdiagnosis can permanently alter a victim’s life because they involve a failure to timely diagnose and properly treat a patient’s condition.

Because medical malpractice and misdiagnosis cases are highly fact-specific, you need an experienced Roanoke misdiagnosis lawyer to manage your claim and advocate for you.

At Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, our misdiagnosis attorneys understand how to manage the details of these types of cases. We leverage our nearly 100 years of combined legal experience to effectively represent you, protecting your rights and fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve.

We aren’t afraid to go head-to-head with major insurers and medical facilities and are committed to providing you with outstanding service and assertive legal representation. We prepare misdiagnosis claims for trial and negotiate from strength.

Has a misdiagnosis hurt you or a family member? Contact a Roanoke misdiagnosis attorney at Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights.

What Is Medical Misdiagnosis?

Medical malpractice occurs when a negligent medical professional deviates from the relevant standard of medical care for a healthcare professional in a similar situation. Typically, that means that the care provided would differ from the standard level of care a similarly trained professional would give a patient under similar conditions and circumstances. Due to this deviation from standard medical protocol, the actions of the negligent medical provider caused significant physical and financial harm to the patient.

Medical misdiagnosis falls under the medical malpractice umbrella. It can occur when a medical professional misreads test results, misinterprets medical records, or fails to properly examine or evaluate a patient’s symptoms. Medical misdiagnosis can be devastating for patients because it can delay proper treatment, aggravate certain medical conditions, and lead to a poor prognosis for a patient whose condition might otherwise have been treatable if they received appropriate and timely care.

What Are the Different Types of Medical Misdiagnosis?

Medical misdiagnosis can cause numerous complications.

Some of the most common types of medical misdiagnosis include:

  • Failure to diagnose a medical condition
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Improper diagnosis
  • Delayed intervention resulting in birth injuries
  • Diagnosis with a condition the patient doesn’t have

Medical misdiagnosis errors can result from false positive and false negative test results and failure to identify the root cause of a patient’s symptoms. Misdiagnosis issues can also arise when a practitioner fails to effectively or honestly communicate with a patient. Contact our Roanoke misdiagnosis lawyer today.

What Conditions Are Frequently Misdiagnosed in Roanoke, VA?

Nearly any condition can cause a misdiagnosis error. However, specific medical issues are generally more often misdiagnosed than others.

Some commonly misdiagnosed conditions include:

  • Cancer, especially breast, cervical, prostate, and colon cancers
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack and other cardiovascular issues
  • Venous thromboembolism
  • Pulmonary embolisms
  • Infections
  • Sepsis
  • Appendicitis
  • Lyme disease
  • Diabetes
  • Fibromyalgia

A study from Johns Hopkins found that 10,000 or more Americans die or are permanently disabled annually due to medical misdiagnosis errors. Misdiagnosed cancers were the leading cause of death and significant injury, according to their study, followed by vascular events and infections.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Misdiagnosis?

As the victim of a medical misdiagnosis, it may feel straightforward to point the blame at your doctor. However, numerous people or entities may be responsible for causing a medical misdiagnosis error.

Those who can potentially be held liable in a misdiagnosis claim in Virginia may include:

  • Doctors
  • Other healthcare professionals
  • Diagnostic professionals
  • Hospitals
  • Medical facilities
  • Medical labs

Identifying all liable parties for a medical misdiagnosis claim can be challenging. You need an experienced Roanoke medical malpractice attorney to manage the process and collect the evidence to build a compelling case.

Can I Be Compensated for a Medical Misdiagnosis?

Depending on the circumstances of your situation, you may pursue compensation for the financial losses associated with a misdiagnosis. Our Roanoke misdiagnosis lawyers are ready to evaluate your situation and calculate the potential value of your claim.

For example, you may be entitled to recover money for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering

The Commonwealth of Virginia caps economic and non-economic damages (compensation) in medical malpractice lawsuits. That means Virginia law limits the amount of money a patient can recover for things like medical bills and lost wages in addition to non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

In rare cases, some patients may also be awarded money for punitive damages when a medical professional’s conduct was extraordinarily reckless or malicious. However, Virginia caps punitive damage awards as well.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Misdiagnosis Lawsuit?

Coping with a medical misdiagnosis can be emotionally and physically painful. It can take time to work through the grief process and face your new reality. However, the law limits your time to hold a medical professional or facility accountable through a medical malpractice claim. Individuals have only two years to file a lawsuit from the date of the medical error. The timeline may be extended in specific situations, like when a patient fails to discover the malpractice due to fraud or concealment.

There is also an exception in cases involving negligent failure to diagnose a cancer. The lawsuit filing deadline can be extended for one year from the date the patient received the correct diagnosis.

Since medical malpractice cases are complex and fact-specific, it is essential to reach out to our aggressive and knowledgeable Roanoke misdiagnosis lawyer as soon as possible.

Contact a Roanoke Medical Misdiagnosis Lawyer

Placing your trust in a medical professional only to receive a devastating misdiagnosis can be a highly stressful, upsetting, and harmful situation. At Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, we have decades of legal experience managing medical malpractice and misdiagnosis cases in Virginia. We want to show you that we care about getting you the justice and compensation you deserve.

Contact our office today to arrange a free consultation with a Roanoke medical negligence attorney from our law firm. We’ll review your situation and outline your legal options for pursuing the money you need to cover your injuries and losses.