Death of New Doctor Leads to Malpractice Suit for Failure to Diagnose

A delayed diagnosis can be fatal. A 26-year-old medical school graduate died last year after going to a hospital complaining of headaches. The young woman’s parents say her death could have been prevented if doctors at a Pennsylvania hospital had ordered proper tests and diagnosed her condition in time to save her. No neurologist examined the patient until more than 40 hours after she arrived at the hospital, according to a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by her parents.

The woman suffered bruising and headaches for approximately 10 days prior to the ER visit, where doctors gave her pain medications. They conducted several tests, but did not order CT scans to check for neurological problems.

By the time a neurologist did arrive and diagnose her with blood clots, it was too late. She suffered a stroke and irreversible brain damage, and had to be placed on life support. She died 10 days after she was admitted into the hospital.

Her parents claim that their daughter’s condition was easily diagnosable and could have been treated readily. They say she suffered a painful death after undergoing massive cerebral hemorrhaging and a stroke.

Often the cause of a delayed diagnosis is the failure to order appropriate tests. The patient’s condition may not be diagnosed correctly and the treatment may not begin on time, resulting in serious complications.

Delayed diagnoses and misdiagnoses are among the most devastating types of medical negligence. According to one study, as many as 40% of all medical malpractice lawsuits filed in this country are related to such errors.

Diagnostic delays can be especially devastating when they are linked to particular conditions. For instance, a delayed or missed cancer diagnosis may delay treatment, resulting in the spread of the cancer.

Delayed diagnosis of a neurological condition, as alleged in the case of the medical school grad, could also result in long-term injuries, brain injuries, or even death.

To file a successful medical malpractice claim, it is important for the patient or the patient’s survivors to show that the health care providers failed to follow the recognized standard of care, and that the delay in diagnosis contributed to patient harm in excess of the harm that could be expected from the medical condition itself, if properly treated.