When you visit a hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, you expect to receive a proper diagnosis and effective treatment. However, medical misdiagnosis is a common and dangerous problem that can result in delayed care, incorrect treatment, or even severe injury. At Marzella & Associates, our medical malpractice lawyers understand how devastating a misdiagnosis can be. We are committed to helping patients hold healthcare providers accountable for their mistakes.
Understanding Misdiagnosis in Hospitals
A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor or medical team incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition or fails to recognize the actual cause of their symptoms. Diagnostic errors can have life-altering consequences in hospital settings, where healthcare providers often juggle multiple patients and time-sensitive decisions. Harrisburg hospitals like UPMC Harrisburg and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are known for providing excellent care. However, even in top-tier facilities, mistakes can happen.
When a patient is misdiagnosed, they may receive the wrong treatment, miss the opportunity for early intervention, or suffer unnecessary complications. In the worst cases, a misdiagnosis can result in permanent injury or death.
Common Causes of Diagnosis Errors
Several factors contribute to diagnostic errors in hospitals. Understanding these common causes can help patients recognize if they are a victim and why legal action may be necessary.
Incomplete Medical History
A rushed or incomplete review of a patient’s medical history can lead to misdiagnosis. If a doctor overlooks critical information about past conditions, medications, or family history, they may overlook specific key indicators. This is especially common in busy hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units in Harrisburg.
Failure to Order Appropriate Tests
Sometimes, a misdiagnosis occurs because a doctor fails to order the necessary diagnostic tests, such as blood work, imaging scans, or biopsies. Without the proper tests, critical conditions like cancer, infections, or cardiovascular disease can go undetected.
Misinterpretation of Test Results
Test results can be misread. For example, a radiologist might overlook a tumor on a scan, or a lab technician might misreport blood test results. These errors can prevent patients from receiving timely and accurate treatment.
Communication Breakdowns
Like those elsewhere, hospitals in Harrisburg involve complex teams of doctors, nurses, and specialists. Miscommunication between providers can result in missed or misunderstood critical information, leading to diagnostic errors.
Cognitive Biases
Doctors, like everyone, are subject to biases and assumptions. Sometimes, a healthcare provider might anchor on an initial diagnosis without fully considering alternative explanations, or they may rely too heavily on common presentations of certain conditions, overlooking atypical symptoms.
Legal Options for Victims of Misdiagnosis
You may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim if you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a misdiagnosis at a Harrisburg hospital. Proving misdiagnosis involves showing that the healthcare provider failed to follow accepted standards of care and that this failure directly caused injury or worsened your condition.
Our medical malpractice lawyers can review your case, work with medical experts to identify diagnostic errors, and build a strong compensation case.
Don’t Delay: Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases is generally two years from the date the injury was discovered or should have been discovered, with a maximum of seven years from the date of the negligent act. If you suspect misdiagnosis, promptly contact our medical malpractice attorneys; missing the deadline may bar your claim.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers Who Care
If you experienced harm due to a hospital misdiagnosis in Harrisburg, PA, you do not need to navigate the legal process independently. Our medical malpractice attorneys at Marzella & Associates are here to help.
Call us today at 717-876-8681 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned medical malpractice lawyer. We will stand by your side and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.