Patients go to the emergency department because they have acute medical conditions that could be dangerous or even life-threatening. Emergency room doctors and nurses need to work quickly to address those issues and protect patients. And one of the most important steps is to correctly diagnose the patient’s condition.
Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens in practice. According to a recent report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 7.4 million ER patients are misdiagnosed every year, about 1 in 18 of the 130 million annual ER visits.
The Top Five Most Misdiagnosed Conditions
Stroke
A stroke is a blood clot or burst blood vessel that cuts off oxygen or nutrients to the brain. Strokes may be misdiagnosed as migraines, seizures, low blood sugar, subdural hematomas, or other conditions that cause similar symptoms. Failure to promptly and correctly diagnose a stroke can be devastating to the patient because timely intervention is needed to prevent permanent damage.
Heart attack
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Heart attacks are more frequently misdiagnosed in women because symptoms can differ from heart attacks in men. They may be misdiagnosed as panic attacks, heartburn/acid reflux, or gallstones.
Aortic aneurysm or dissection
An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta—the major blood vessel that carries blood from the heart—and an aortic dissection is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta. Two of the most common symptoms of an aortic aneurysm are abdominal pain and back pain, both of which are associated with many other medical conditions, such as renal colic or gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Spinal cord compression or injury
Spinal cord injuries and compression affect the column of nerves that carries signals from the brain to the rest of the body. A spinal cord injury might be misdiagnosed as a muscle strain, peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, or even a stroke, depending on the symptoms. Failure to immediately identify and treat a spinal cord injury might cause permanent paralysis.
Venous thromboembolism
A venous thromboembolism (VTE), such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a blood clot deep in the veins that, if left untreated, can block the flow of blood to the lungs, causing permanent damage or death. VTE can be misdiagnosed as a muscle strain or sprain, varicose veins, cellulitis, or sciatica.
Our Law Firm Holds Doctors and Hospitals Accountable
Those five conditions are just a few of the many diseases and injuries that go undiagnosed in emergency rooms every day. Diagnosis is not an exact science, and we don’t expect emergency room physicians to be perfect.
However, we do expect them to follow medical standards of care when diagnosing injuries, including ordering the right tests or sending the patient to a specialist for further assessment if needed. When doctors overlook or misinterpret symptoms, the consequences for patients can be deadly. We hold them accountable.
The Lancione Law Firm, based in Rocky River, Ohio, has extensive experience and a strong track record of results in medical misdiagnosis cases. In one case, we recovered $8 million for the family of a man who died after his doctor ignored symptoms of a heart attack.
If you’ve been hurt or lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, contact us for a free, confidential consultation.