You probably depend on medical professionals to keep you and your loved ones as healthy as possible, but what happens when a delayed medical diagnosis causes severe illness or even death? The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that such errors are the sixth-most common cause of death among Americans and cause more than 80,000 deaths each year.
Because these delays are common, learning their causes may protect you or a loved one from severe illness or death from a misdiagnosis that is uncovered too late.
Poor communication between providers
Delayed diagnosis issues often occur when a patient’s primary care doctor refers a patient to a specialist when a medical problem is uncovered. Several inconsistencies in communication can cause a delayed diagnosis, including:
- The incomplete transfer of medical records
- Delayed communication between doctors
- Confusion regarding multiple test results
When healthcare providers do not communicate fully, this can result in a delayed diagnosis that may slow the treatment of your medical problem, such as cancer.
Diagnostic errors
While advancements in medical technology have paved the way for more effective treatments, they can also lead to errors. Diagnostic testing such as MRIs, x-rays and biopsies may all include minor errors that can lead to an incorrect conclusion. False-positive results could also lead to delays. If the results of any diagnostic testing are in question, you may want to ask your physician to repeat the test, if possible, to rule out any possibility of error.
Improved training for healthcare professionals and greater client feedback may reduce the number of delayed diagnosis cases in the United States. You can reduce your own risk by remaining informed about your medical care and tracking communication between one or more providers.
What else can cause a diagnosis to be delayed?
Communication breakdowns and testing errors are two of the most common causes. Others include:
- Failing to order the right test. A doctor may not order imaging, bloodwork, or a biopsy that the symptoms called for.
- Failing to follow up on abnormal results. A concerning result is flagged but never shared with the patient or acted on.
- Dismissing symptoms. A doctor settles too quickly on a less serious explanation, such as stress, a virus, or indigestion. Researchers call these mental shortcuts heuristics.
- Not referring to a specialist. A problem that needs a specialist is managed too long by a general provider.
- Rushed or overcrowded care. Short appointments and busy emergency rooms leave less time to take a full history and examine the patient.
Which conditions are most often diagnosed late?
Research on diagnostic errors has found that most of the serious harm comes from three groups of conditions: cancers, infections, and vascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. These are conditions where time matters most. A cancer caught late may have spread (see our article on failure to diagnose pancreatic cancer), an infection such as sepsis can become life-threatening within hours, and a missed stroke or heart attack can mean permanent damage. Missed internal bleeding after an injury is another emergency where a delay can be deadly.
When is a delayed diagnosis medical malpractice?
Not every delay is malpractice. Medicine is not perfect, and some conditions are genuinely hard to identify. A delayed diagnosis may be malpractice when two things are true. First, the provider fell below the accepted standard of care, meaning a reasonably careful provider in the same situation would have diagnosed the condition sooner. Second, the delay caused real harm, such as an illness progressing, a treatable condition becoming untreatable, or the loss of a loved one. Read more about the factors necessary for a medical malpractice suit.
What are the signs that my diagnosis may have been delayed?
Patients often look back and notice a pattern. Common signs include symptoms that continued or worsened while you were told nothing was wrong, repeat visits for the same complaint, an abnormal test result that was never explained, or a new doctor finding a condition that was visible on earlier tests or scans. A diagnosis at an advanced stage after months of symptoms is also worth a closer look.
What should I do if I think my diagnosis was delayed?
Focus on your health first, and consider getting a second opinion. Then request complete copies of your medical records, including test results and imaging. Write down a timeline of your symptoms, appointments, and what each provider told you. Because these cases depend on medical records and expert review, it helps to speak with an attorney early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a misdiagnosis the same as a delayed diagnosis?
They are closely related. A misdiagnosis means a doctor identified the wrong condition. A delayed diagnosis means the right condition was identified, but later than it should have been. Both can support a medical malpractice claim when they cause harm.
How do I know if I have a case?
Every situation is different, and the answer usually depends on a careful review of your medical records. Our guide to whether you have a case explains what attorneys look for, and a free consultation is the fastest way to find out.
What does it cost to talk with Glass & Tabor?
The initial consultation is free. It gives you a chance to tell us what happened and ask your questions, and it helps both of us decide whether the firm is the right fit for your situation.
If you believe a delayed diagnosis harmed you or a loved one, contact Glass & Tabor in Norman, Oklahoma for a free consultation.