Medical malpractice is an umbrella term for various errors made by doctors, nurses, surgeons and other health care professionals. If you have received a misdiagnosis and have doubts about the effectiveness of subsequent treatments, you should seek another opinion right away.
Misdiagnosis can have a detrimental impact on your health and wellness. Knowing the dangers of this common medical error can help you advocate for your well-being with confidence and dignity.
Worsening health
Misdiagnosis is a serious issue that could leave you battling worse symptoms than the ones you previously sought help for. An alarming study shared by CNN reports that a staggering 7.4 million misdiagnoses happen each year in the United States. Of these, 370,000 victims suffered permanent disability or death while another 2.6 million experienced preventable harm.
Ineffective medications
Another impact of misdiagnosis is the prescription and use of ineffective medications. You might end up taking medication that does not provide any relief. Depending on the misdiagnosis you received, your prescriptions could take an unnecessary toll on your body and its ability to fight other illnesses.
Unnecessary treatments
A misdiagnosis can also result in treatments that cause you unnecessary pain and angst because they do not adequately treat your symptoms. Additionally, these treatments could cost you a lot of money.
Receiving the wrong diagnosis might not seem like a big deal at first. However, not receiving adequate medical help on time could compromise your quality of life. Your diligence in monitoring your symptoms and seeking a second opinion can help prevent more serious consequences.