With the multitude of technological advances that have occurred in the field of medicine, it is difficult to comprehend that a patient could still be wrongly diagnosed in this day and time.  It seems impossible and inconceivable that a patient could be diagnosed by a professionally trained physician with a disease or illness that they do not even have.  Patients that are wrongly diagnosed may be injured in more ways than one.  Not only does the patient have to deal with the pain and suffering inflicted on them by the diagnosis and the fear it brings, but the patient may also be subjected to unnecessary and painful medical treatments.  Often these treatments carry with them adverse side affects that can cause either temporary or permanent damage to the individual's health and quality of life.  Before a diagnosis is made, the physician should carefully review all information to ensure that they are giving the patient the correct diagnosis.  Otherwise, the physician may be sued for medical malpractice if the patient discovers that they are not suffering from the disease with which they were diagnosed and treated.

     When a patient describes the symptoms that they have been experiencing to their physician, the physician many times is not able to make an immediate diagnosis.  Medical tests may be required in order to determine what illness is causing the patient's symptoms.  Many illnesses have similar symptoms; therefore, physicians have to take great pains to make certain they all necessary tests have been conducted in order to make a correct diagnosis.  Because many medications can have harmful side effects, it is imperative that patients not be prescribed medications for illnesses or diseases they do not have.  A cost-benefit analysis usually needs to be considered before any medication is prescribed, as most medications carry potential health risks.  In some cases, the risk of leaving the illness untreated is greater than the risks posed by the medication.  However, if the patient does not have the illness the medication is designed to treat, then the patient has just taken a harmful medication without purpose or benefit to their health.

    A wrong diagnosis can not only affect the patient's physical health but their mental health as well.  The anguish experienced by individuals when diagnosed with an illness or disease is often overwhelming and can be debilitating.  When a patient suffers this type of emotional distress due to a wrong diagnosis, the party responsible for the wrong diagnosis should be held accountable.  While most physicians correctly diagnose their patients, there are those physicians that can and do wrongly diagnose their patients.  Patients that have been wrongly diagnosed and suffered physically and emotionally due to the wrong diagnosis may be entitled to compensation by the responsible party.

    The law firm of Robinson and Associates employs attorneys that are dedicated to assisting individuals in Maryland and Washington D.C. that have been victims of medical malpractice.  Robinson and Associates is a law firm with years of experience regarding medical malpractice claims and provide no obligation consultations to those individuals in Maryland and Washington D.C. that have been wrongly diagnosed by their physician.