Top Five Most Commonly Misdiagnosed Conditions

Most patients rely entirely on their doctors for all their medical diagnosis needs. But diagnosis errors, usually in one of the five areas discussed below, kill or seriously injure hundreds of thousands of people every year. Frequently, doctors over-delegate diagnostic test result interpretation to less-qualified professionals, like nurses or even patient care techs. These individuals are very good at their jobs, but they cannot substitute for physicians.

If medical misdiagnosis causes injury, a Charles County personal injury lawyer from the Law Office of Robert R. Castro can obtain substantial compensation for victims. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. Since doctors have such a high duty of care, additional punitive damages are often available in these matters as well.

Celiac Disease

Abnormal gluten levels trigger this rare autoimmune disorder. Because symptoms vary widely, many patients go years without a proper diagnosis, and their physical conditions deteriorate. Common symptoms include:

• Bloating,
• Diarrhea or constipation,
• Fatigue,
• Weight loss, and
• Nutrient deficiencies.

Because of these symptoms, CD is often misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s disease, food intolerance, or stress-related digestive issues. The treatments for these conditions do not affect CD.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues often called “fibro fog.” Because there is no single definitive test for the condition, it is frequently misunderstood. It may be confused with:

• Rheumatoid arthritis,
• Lupus, or
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Patients sometimes go through multiple diagnoses before fibromyalgia is confirmed. Meanwhile, they continue suffering debilitating physical and mental symptoms that usually affect their ability to work.

Lost wages are a primary component of the aforementioned economic losses a Waldorf, Maryland personal injury lawyer can obtain. These damages also include lost future productivity damages.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms such as numbness, vision problems, fatigue, and muscle weakness.

Because symptoms appear gradually and can resemble other neurological disorders, MS is sometimes mistaken for migraine headaches, Lyme disease, or strokes. Due to these common errors, advanced imaging and neurological testing are often required for accurate diagnosis.

Thyroid Disorders

Conditions like Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism can affect energy levels, mood, metabolism, and weight. Because symptoms develop slowly, they are often mistaken for other issues. Although simple blood tests usually confirm a thyroid disorder, as mentioned above, diagnostic test misinterpretation is a common reason for misdiagnosis.

Cancer

This duty of care is a fiduciary duty. Doctors must put aside all other concerns, such as making money or work-life balance, and only do what’s best for their patients. At a minimum, this responsibility includes a thorough examination that takes all aspects of patient health into account.

Alas, many doctors believe that cancer is a lifestyle or genetic condition. So, if a patient does not smoke or has no family history of lung cancer, most doctors do not even consider this disease as a possibility. Instead, when patients lose weight, experience chronic pain, have trouble breathing, and display other classic lung cancer symptoms, many doctors diagnose them with severe asthma or another such condition.

Cancer survival rates have improved significantly since the 1990s, mostly because of better diagnostic techniques. Doctors now catch lung cancer early. Delayed detection limits treatment options. Doctors must use more extreme methods, and many advanced lung cancer patients are too sick to tolerate these treatments.

Reach Out to a Savvy Calvert County Lawyer

Injury victims need and deserve substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, contact the Law Office of Robert R. Castro, 11701 Central Ave Suite 200, Waldorf, MD 20601. Call us at (301) 870-1200 or go online now.

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert R. Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced lawyer at (301) 870-1200.