Medical malpractice lawsuits involve a provider’s failure to diagnose a patient properly. When a patient seeks medical help, he or she trusts that their healthcare provider will perform the necessary steps to determine what is causing their symptoms. However, in doing so, the provider may make the wrong diagnosis, or fail to diagnose the true medical condition.

A misdiagnosis, or incorrect diagnosis, can lead a patient down the wrong treatment path, significantly delaying proper treatment. In many types of cancers or serious diseases, an early and correct diagnosis can make a true difference in a patient’s prognosis, therefore, it is crucial for a physician to make the correct diagnosis as soon as possible. A missed diagnosis, or a failure to diagnose occurs when a healthcare worker does not diagnose a health condition in a timely manner. In many cases, medical conditions are treatable when caught early; however, failing to diagnose or treat a medical condition often leads to further injury or death.