A misdiagnosis in a hospital setting can lead to delayed treatment or a worsening medical condition that could have been prevented with proper care. When this happens, our medical malpractice attorneys in Harrisburg can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation for harm caused by negligent medical providers.
How Hospital Misdiagnosis Happens
Medical misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition or fails to identify a condition altogether. These errors can result from a facility being understaffed and overworked, poor clinical judgment, system failures, or rushed decision-making in busy hospital environments. Common causes of misdiagnosis include:
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Failure to order or properly interpret diagnostic tests such as bloodwork, imaging, or lab results
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Overreliance on initial impressions without considering alternative diagnoses
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Inadequate patient history-taking or failure to review prior medical records
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Failure to recognize rare or atypical presentations of common diseases
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Premature discharge from the hospital without sufficient observation
In many cases, misdiagnosis is not the result of a single mistake but a chain of preventable errors that occur during the time a patient is under a professional’s care.
Proving Medical Negligence
Patients in Pennsylvania may have the right to file a medical malpractice claim if a healthcare provider’s negligence caused harm. To have a successful claim, it generally must be shown that:
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A provider-patient relationship existed
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The provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care
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That failure directly caused injury
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The patient suffered financial or emotional damages because of their injury
The attorneys at Marzella & Associates have extensive experience helping our clients understand their legal rights and the steps to take during their case. We work to gather the necessary evidence to establish fault and pursue justice.
Steps to Take After a Hospital Misdiagnosis
Taking the right steps after discovering a misdiagnosis can protect both your health and your future case. Because medical conditions can worsen quickly, it is essential to seek immediate medical treatment.
After seeking care, the next step is to request complete copies of your medical records as soon as possible. These records provide a detailed timeline of what symptoms were reported, what testing was performed, and how providers responded at each stage of care. In many cases, small details in the charting can help clarify whether warning signs were missed or improperly evaluated.
Keeping a clear personal record of events and your condition can be valuable. Many misdiagnosis cases involve injuries or illnesses that worsen over time, and a detailed account of symptom development can help connect changes in your health to medical negligence.
It’s important to act quickly after experiencing medical negligence. Consulting with one of our attorneys can help you understand what to do next in your unique case.
Reach Out to Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Harrisburg for Legal Support
Marzella & Associates represents patients and families harmed by diagnostic mistakes and other forms of medical negligence. Contact our firm today by calling 717-234-7828 or using our online contact form to speak with our Harrisburg medical malpractice lawyers. We offer free case assessments to clients living in Harrisburg, Hanover, Lancaster, and surrounding Pennsylvania areas.