When Is Inaction a Failure to Diagnose?

Failure to diagnose a medical condition can have serious consequences for patients. In some cases, the failure to diagnose is not due to a misinterpretation of test results or an error in judgment but rather a failure to take any action at all. This raises the question: When is inaction a failure to diagnose?

Just because your physician did not take the actions you believed necessary, it does not necessarily equate to medical malpractice. Many doctors tend to avoid invasive action if at all possible while pursuing less invasive methods.

Moriarty Injury Lawyer offers some insight on when Atlanta, GA, Failure to Diagnose Lawsuits may be warranted.

How Did My Doctor Miss My Medical Condition?

Inaction may be considered a failure to diagnose when a healthcare provider fails to recognize, investigate or respond to symptoms that should reasonably raise concerns about a potential medical condition. Healthcare providers are expected to follow established standards of care, which may include taking appropriate steps to evaluate and diagnose a patient’s symptoms.

Ignoring Symptoms or Concerns

One common scenario where inaction may constitute a failure to diagnose is when a patient presents with symptoms that are indicative of a serious medical condition, but the healthcare provider dismisses or ignores these symptoms without conducting further evaluation. For example, if a patient complains of persistent chest pain and shortness of breath, but the healthcare provider attributes these symptoms to anxiety without ordering further testing, this could be considered a failure to diagnose.

Not Following Up Abnormal Test Results

Another scenario where inaction may constitute a failure to diagnose is when a healthcare provider fails to follow up on abnormal test results or to refer a patient to a specialist for further evaluation. For instance, if a routine screening test indicates a potential abnormality, but the healthcare provider fails to communicate these results to the patient or to take appropriate steps to investigate further, this could result in a failure to diagnose a medical condition.

Not Paying Attention to Your Medical History

Inaction may also be considered a failure to diagnose when a healthcare provider fails to recognize the significance of a patient’s medical history or to consider relevant risk factors that should prompt further evaluation. For example, if a patient has a family history of a particular medical condition, but the healthcare provider fails to take this into account when evaluating the patient’s symptoms, this could be considered a failure to diagnose.

Were You Harmed Due to a Physician’s Inaction?

Whether or not inaction constitutes a failure to diagnose will depend on the specific circumstances of each case. Healthcare providers are expected to exercise sound clinical judgment and to take appropriate steps to evaluate and diagnose patients’ symptoms based on the information available to them. Failure to do so may constitute a breach of the standard of care and result in harm to patients.

If you or a loved one have been harmed by a healthcare provider’s failure to diagnose, you or they may have legal recourse. You may be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered due to the failure to diagnose your medical condition.

Moriarty Injury Lawyer attorneys know how to evaluate a doctor’s inaction to determine if it may be considered a failure to diagnose. Generally, this is when a healthcare provider fails to recognize, investigate or respond to symptoms that should reasonably raise concerns about a potential medical condition.

Patients who have been harmed by a failure to diagnose should seek legal advice from our Medical Malpractice Attorneys to understand their rights and options for seeking compensation. Call us today to learn more.