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Table of Contents
When we go to the doctor exhibiting painful or worrisome health symptoms, we expect that a medical professional will quickly diagnose our issues and prescribe proper treatment. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
This is called misdiagnosis, and it is a serious issue. It can lead to the administration of the wrong drugs, the wrong treatment, or even a treatment that makes the patients’ condition worsen. The actual illness is left untreated, often causing serious injuries or wrongful death.
Misdiagnosis can be a life or death matter. If you have been affected, contact the aggressive legal team at Freidin Brown, P.A. today. See how our Fort Lauderdale misdiagnosis lawyers can help you file a claim for compensation.
Misdiagnosis of Cancer
Cancer is a scary disease, as many people die from it. The sooner cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances for a full recovery. When cancer is misdiagnosed, there is no treatment. If cancer is diagnosed at a later date, it could be too late for effective treatment.
Breast cancer, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer are some forms of cancer that get worse with time when they are not properly treated. If there is a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis when it comes to cancer, it is often because of the following:
- Failure to correctly recognize the patient’s symptoms
- Failure to perform prostate exams, cervical exams, mammograms, and other cancer screenings as needed
- Failure to recognize visible cancer cells during a skin cancer exam
- Failure to perform biopsies of abnormal tissue
- Failure to correctly interpret diagnostic test results to spot malignancies
- Failure to start necessary treatment after receiving abnormal test results
Suffered Due to Misdiagnosis? Let Us Help You Seek Justice!
Misdiagnosis of Heart Attack
Heart attacks are often misdiagnosed as anxiety, heartburn, or indigestion. When they are misdiagnosed, it could lead to permanent damage to the heart or even wrongful death. When a patient is suffering from heart attack symptoms, a medical professional should immediately administer appropriate tests and treatments such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, coronary artery disease tests, cardiac enzyme tests, angiograms, and stress tests.
Common heart attack symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Back, shoulder, or arm pain
- Fainting or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Sweating
Misdiagnosis of Stroke
Strokes can also be misdiagnosed. A stroke blocks the blood supply that carries oxygen to the brain. A lack of oxygen for an extended period of time can cause permanent brain damage.
When medical personnel fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, and the patient sustains a serious injury or death, the patient could file a medical malpractice lawsuit. The sooner a stroke is diagnosed, the better the chance of a full recovery.
Symptoms of a stroke include:
- Paralysis or weakness on one side of their body
- Diminished mental capacity
- Inability to speak or understand speech
- Decreased motor skills
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Contact Freidin Brown, P.A. Today
Misdiagnosis can happen in many ways. It can limit your treatment options and cause you to suffer damages. If you or a loved one has been affected, the Fort Lauderdale misdiagnosis lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help you understand your legal options. To schedule a free consultation, call us today or fill out the online form.
Frequently Asked Questions About Misdiagnosis
Our firm can answer FAQs about misdiagnosis cases in Fort Lauderdale, including:
What should I do if I think a Fort Lauderdale doctor missed something important during my first visit?
Start by requesting complete records from that visit, including triage notes, test orders, and all lab and imaging reports. In Fort Lauderdale, care often moves between urgent care, outpatient specialists, and hospitals like Broward Health Medical Center or Holy Cross Hospital, so records may be split. A Fort Lauderdale misdiagnosis lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. can identify what was available to the provider at the time and what should have been done next.
Can a misdiagnosis claim in Fort Lauderdale be based on failure to follow up on abnormal results?
Yes. A common misdiagnosis scenario involves abnormal results that were neither communicated nor acted upon. If follow-up failed, your condition can progress, while the chart shows that warnings were present. A Fort Lauderdale misdiagnosis attorney reviews result timestamps and notification notes to determine whether follow-up duties were breached.
How does a misdiagnosis create liability in Florida if the correct diagnosis is difficult?
Difficulty does not excuse failure to use reasonable diagnostic steps. The legal question is whether a competent provider would have ordered additional testing, consulted a specialist, or changed course based on persistent symptoms. Our Fort Lauderdale misdiagnosis attorneys focus on whether accepted diagnostic safeguards were used before treatment decisions were made.
Does misdiagnosis during a telehealth visit count as malpractice in Fort Lauderdale?
It can. Telehealth providers must still recommend in-person evaluation or testing when symptoms require it. If a virtual visit led to reassurance without escalation and harm followed, that decision can have legal consequences. The Fort Lauderdale misdiagnosis lawyers at Freidin Brown P. A review the documentation and instructions given during the telehealth encounter to build a strong claim.
