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Misdiagnosis and the “Big Three”

On Behalf of | May 13, 2021 | Doctor Errors |

We may have heard horror stories of wrong-site surgeries or the mixing up of patient charts causing a worsened medical condition for the Lake Oswego residents, leading to a medical malpractice claim. It may surprise you, then, to learn that diagnostic mistakes are the most common form of medical error. And according to some, they are the most serious type of medical error.

The statistics on misdiagnoses

According to one report, while it is not known exactly how many people in the U.S. suffer a misdiagnosis, it is estimated that anywhere from 40,000 and 80,000 hospital fatalities each year are related to a misdiagnosis. Moreover, between 80,000 to 160,000 cases of serious harm to a patient’s health each year may be due to a misdiagnosis.

What conditions are often misdiagnosed?

According to one study, the “big three” ailments are responsible for almost three-fourths of all “serious harm” caused by a misdiagnosis. The big three are: infections, cancer and vascular events. Over one-third of misdiagnoses ending in death or permanent disability were due to cancer misdiagnoses, especially mistakes related to lung cancer. Vascular issues were second at 22%, with most mistakes being related to strokes. Finally, infections were third at 13.5%, with most mistakes being related to sepsis.

Learn more about medical malpractice claims

Those who have suffered a worsened condition due to a misdiagnosis may be under a lot of stress. Not only are they dealing with a medical condition that seriously affects their health, but the misdiagnosis may have cost them both in time and money relating to unnecessary medical bills, and continued treatment once the correct diagnosis is made. In such situations, a person may want to learn more about pursuing a medical malpractice claim. Those who want to learn more about this topic are encouraged to explore our firm’s website for further information.

 

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