Everyone makes mistakes. It’s simply human nature and no one is exempt. As much as we may not want to admit it, this means that the doctors who treat us can make a mistake now and then, too.

When it comes to medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation. If you feel that either you or a loved one has suffered from a misdiagnosed ailment, here’s what you need to know to determine if you should get in touch with a Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Attorney.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is defined as a medical professional’s failure to properly treat a medical condition of a patient, or whose negligence or omission results in injury, including death. While you may think you have a case if your doctor makes any sort of mistake while treating you, this is not always the case.

In order to have a basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit, you must show that a doctor or another medical professional made a mistake and that you were directly harmed by the mistake. The mistake can happen at any time during the treatment, such as misdiagnosing your illness or not giving the proper treatment for the illness.

If you can prove that the doctor’s mistake caused you further damage or harm, then you are well on your way to proving your medical malpractice case. Here are some commonly misdiagnosed medical ailments that may help with your case.

Appendicitis

The misdiagnosis of appendicitis can be a serious mistake for many patients. Appendectomies, a medical procedure involved in the removal of a ruptured appendix, is one of the most common emergency room procedures in the United States. More than a quarter of a million of these procedures are performed in hospital emergency rooms annually. Complications from a ruptured appendix that was not properly diagnosed can include death.

Some tell-tale symptoms of this ailment include severe abdominal pain, nausea and possibly a low-grade fever. A misdiagnosis, especially in children, could be caused by a lack of a proper physical examination, misreading scan readouts or lack of follow-up after a patient initially presents with symptoms. The misdiagnosis of an acute appendicitis may lead to a perforation that requires immediate medical attention in order to avoid infection and the risk of death.

Lyme Disease

A bullseye rash at the site where an infection has occurred is one sign that Lyme disease may be present. A person suffering from this tick-borne illness may appear to have the flu, with symptoms like body aches, fevers and headaches. Because a particular type of tick, the deer tick, are known as culprits in causing the disease, a physician needs to ask specific questions to understand if a patient is at risk. Failing to do so may lead to chronic joint pain, neurological symptoms, heart arrhythmia or cognitive defects such as lost or impaired memory.

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in any part of the body. It affects 1.5 million Americans, striking mainly women between the ages of 15 and 44. Lupus can produce mild discomfort and pain to life-threatening attacks if left untreated. Because lupus can attack any part of the body, it can present as rheumatoid arthritis or other types of joint or skin ailments. This is especially true if you or your loved one develops the disease but does not have a rash across the cheek – a sure sign of the disease.

Migraines

Migraines can be extremely simple to misdiagnose. It all starts with a doctor or medical professional failing to question you about your family’s medical history. A history of migraines in your family will tell your doctor to perform additional tests to determine the severity of your condition (or that of a loved one). Without requesting this information, your doctor leaves you at huge risk of a severe attack that may lead to paralysis, Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease or stroke.

Medical malpractice can be a complicated lawsuit from the beginning of your claim, and it usually takes quite some time to work through. Make sure you have the proper guidance and consultation every step of the way by reaching out to the medical malpractice attorneys at Goldberg, Persky & White Attorneys at Law. Proving your medical malpractice case takes a skilled attorney to piece together the complex facts of your case. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a doctor’s negligence, call us today for a free consultation and let us work to protect your rights.