When a family brings a loved one to see a medical professional, they are expecting the highest quality of care. While the vast majority of doctors throughout the United States are incredibly consistent and display a high level of experience, the reality is that some are not as qualified. The same can be said for nursing homes. Nursing home personnel are supposed to take care of those who can no longer take care of themselves, but many seemingly fall short of this job. One of the most dangerous shortcomings, as it pertains to nursing home medical care, is a misdiagnosis.
The Consequences of a Misdiagnosis
When an elderly person’s health condition is misdiagnosed by a nursing home’s on-call or on-staff physician, the results can be downright frightening. Some of the most common implications of misdiagnosis, especially among older patients, include bodily pain, depression, fever, and even infection.
In some cases, a misdiagnosis can be life-threatening, due to improper prescriptions or medical treatment based on an incorrect diagnosis. The wrong type of medication not only fails to properly resolve the actual medical issue but it can further exacerbate health problems among the patients. In these instances, the patient can experience diminished health and even death. For instance, if a person has fibromyalgia that is incorrectly diagnosed as Parkinson’s, he or she is likely to receive incorrect treatment that could further impact his or her health negatively.
It is important to recognize that some misdiagnosis may be unavoidable. All medical professionals can make mistakes, and some symptoms can dictate that a person has an additional health problem. Still, if a dcotor’s negligence is the ultimate reason for the misdiagnosis, you and your family deserve compensation.
Contact a Plainfield, IL Medical Misdiagnosis Lawyer
At Flaherty Law, LLC, we understand just how difficult it can be to watch a loved one lose his or her independence. Choosing to move a parent or another loved one into a nursing home facility can be one of the hardest decisions a family will ever make. Once the decision is made, you put your complete trust and faith into the nursing home staff. When a doctor or nurse acts negligently or misdiagnoses a patient, he or she is failing to adhere to his or her professional duties. In many cases, this negligence can result in sanctions being brought against the employee and facility, as well as significant compensation for your family. To schedule a complimentary initial consultation with a skilled Will County nursing home negligence attorney, call our office today at 815-860-5702.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4881921/