Five Conditions that are Often Misdiagnosed

Which conditions are most likely to be misdiagnosed in Florida?

1. Cancer: A Harvard study of malpractice claims found that in the U.S, cancer, especially breast cancer and colorectal cancer, is the disease most misdiagnosed. According to the study, misdiagnosis usually occurred when doctors failed to follow cancer screening guidelines.
2. Infection: The same study found that infection is the second most misdiagnosed disease.
3. Heart Disease: There are many symptoms that can indicate heart disease, including chest pains, shortness of breath, and nausea. If you are a man with these symptoms, doctors are likely to screen you for cardiac problems. However, if you are a woman, doctors are likely to blame your symptoms on stress, anxiety, or heartburn. Heart disease is seven times more likely to be misdiagnosed in women than in men. This is because doctors wrongly assume that women are at low risk for heart attacks until age 55.
4. Heart attacks: Heart attacks aren't always obvious. Some patients may experience nausea, chest pressure, or flu-like symptoms instead of chest pains. Only 60 percent of female heart attack victims ever experience chest pain; women are often misdiagnosed and are rarely referred for angiograms or other tests that could identify a heart attack. 
5. Clogged arteries: Patients who complain of shortness of breath are sometimes told that their symptoms are due to being overweight or out of shape. However, many of these patients could actually have coronary artery disease.

If you have suffered because your or your loved one's illness was misdiagnosed, contact West Palm Beach medical malpractice attorney Craig Goldenfarb at 800-GOLD-LAW.