Most people think that the majority of medical malpractice claims are the result of doctors or hospital staff acting negligently and making mistakes. That's only partially true. Most of them involve diagnosing their patients incorrectly. Those cases of misdiagnosis can result in both injury and death. 

Patient Misdiagnosis and Injury

Did you know that 34% of all medical malpractice claims are the direct result of a missed diagnosis or a delayed diagnosis? In addition to that, 28% of the total amount of payouts are due to misdiagnosis. Many of these cases involved either cancer, an infection, or a heart problem. 

What's also interesting is the fact that people are mostly being misdiagnosed in their doctors' offices or in emergency rooms. We tend to think of medical malpractice as mostly applying to surgical errors, but that's not the case at all. 

How Can You Prevent a Misdiagnosis?

There are several things you can do to prevent a misdiagnosis. First and foremost, never withhold any information from your doctor. Take charge of your medical health and never be afraid to ask questions. Make sure you understand everything they tell you, and do your own research as well. 

When to File a St. Louis Medical Malpractice Suit

Filing a St. Louis medical malpractice suit is something you should not put off. There is a statute of limitations, and you don't want that to expire. Contact us right away.