A new study published in BMJ Open has found that missed diagnosis is the leading cause of medical malpractice claims made against primary care physicians. The study, conducted by researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical School and Trinity College Dublin, took into account over 7,000 studies on medical malpractice before winnowing their data pool down to the 34 deemed most eligible for their study. What researches found was that, among adult patients, failure to diagnose cancer and heart attacks topped the list of claims, while pediatric patients suffered most from failure to diagnose meningitis.
According to the study, up to 68 percent of medical malpractice claims involve a failure to diagnose, causing as many of 48 percent of medical malpractice wrongful death claims. Following failure to diagnose, medication errors are the second leading cause of malpractice claims, comprising around 20 percent of the actions brought against primary care physicians.
You Need Determined Representation
Being injured through medical malpractice and getting fair compensation for your damages are two distinctly different things. When you suffer any form of medical malpractice, you need an aggressive and experienced attorney on your side who can investigate your claim, prove liability, and take your case as far as necessary to get you the full compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a negligent physician, please contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney in your area to schedule a free case evaluation.