A medical misdiagnosis can present a serious health problem for a Chicago resident. While some misdiagnosed issues can resolve themselves on their own, serious ailments such as cancer and infections can spread and become difficult to treat. A patient that is subject to a misdiagnosis may find that the person is facing a worsened condition if a doctor fails to identify the true nature of the disease.
There are, however, some steps that patients can take to help their doctors come to the right conclusions about the patients’ health. It is important for patients to remember, though, that even when given all of the information a patient can provide, a doctor may still make a diagnostic mistake. Patients who are harmed by doctor errors and misdiagnoses may have rights to compensation based on medical malpractice claims.
One of the first things that patient can do to help his doctor make a sound diagnosis is to chronicle the person’s symptoms. If a patient is able to tell his physician when a particular condition began and how it has changed over time, it may help that doctor work through possible rationales that explain the patient’s suffering. Specificity about symptoms is also important and can help doctors rule out some possible reasons for an undiagnosed ailment.
Patients can also help their doctors by knowing their medical histories and being able to identify their medications. In some cases, a patient may see a doctor that has not ever treated the person before and that doctor may not be familiar with the patient’s current medication schedule. The more information a patient can give to a doctor, the better chance that doctor has of coming to an accurate diagnosis of the patient’s condition.
Patients can play an active role in their own health care. However, it is up to medical professionals to utilize their knowledge and resources to find proper diagnoses for the individuals under their care. When they fail to do so and misdiagnoses occur, patients can suffer significant harm.
