The Serious Consequences Of Medical Misdiagnosis

Written by Berkowitz

One of the leading scenarios in a medical malpractice and negligence case is when a medical practitioner makes a misdiagnosis. The domino effect of a negligent or reckless misdiagnosis may begin with medication errors, misread lab work and/or X-rays and subsequent incorrect treatment and then lead to a worsened health condition and possibly death.

Medical malpractice experts Berkowitz and Hanna LLC understand that the failure to correctly diagnose a condition “can mean the difference between wellness, serious complications and even wrongful death.” 

recent lawsuit filed in Philadelphia, filed after a Scranton boy died within three months after his first diagnosis, illustrates this point. His parents are suing a long list of medical practitioners and facilities, seeking $50,000 in damages from each defendant.

On January 29, 2013, six-year-old Pedro was brought to the Moses Taylor Hospital with a five-day fever, cough and cold. His parents allege that medical professionals misdiagnosed his condition, misread his X-rays and prescribed him the wrong medication. After being seen and treated at several medical facilities in the area, the boy died in his mother’s arms less than three months later.

According to the lawsuit, Pedro’s autopsy revealed that “he had pneumonia and, liver and kidney failure…and a rare disorder of the skin and mucous membranes called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome”  – causing him to get treated in a burn ward because of a severe, painful rash which spread over most of his body.

Berkowitz and Hanna LLC points out that 10 percent of all hospital patients are harmed by medical mistakes. Some, like Pedro, never recover.

Note: Berkowitz and Hanna LLC did not represent any of the parties in this case.

 

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