Experienced Lexington Medical Malpractice Attorneys With Experience Handling Failure To Diagnose Cases
Today, an early diagnosis can open up a vast array of treatment possibilities for individuals with serious illnesses. Conditions that were once thought to be fatal can be slowed and even eliminated altogether – but only once they have been identified.
At the law office of O’Brien Batten Kirtley & Coomer, PLLC, a Lexington, Kentucky, medical malpractice law firm, we fight for individuals who have lost the chance to most effectively battle an illness because medical professionals failed to diagnose their condition.
With Cancer, There Are No Do-Overs
While many forms of cancer are considered treatable, the odds of surviving decrease the longer the condition goes undiagnosed. A failure to diagnose cancer, or a delayed diagnosis, is devastating and can never be undone.
Our firm represents a wide variety of cancer victims, including people suffering from:
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Lymphoma
- Cervical cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
By failing to diagnose your cancer, your doctors robbed you of having a good chance at recovery. That is something you can never get back. If you or a loved one is suffering with cancer that has gone undiagnosed, you may be entitled to compensation, and we are ready to help you get what you deserve.
Passionate. Committed. Thorough.
Our personal injury lawyers have more than 100 years of combined legal experience, giving them the background, knowledge and skill necessary to represent individuals who were not promptly diagnosed with conditions such as:
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Infection
- Pneumonia
- Appendicitis
If you or a loved one was not diagnosed with a serious illness due to negligence on the part of medical professionals, you may be entitled to compensation for the additional medical care you will need as well as the emotional suffering and pain you face as a result of the missed diagnosis.
We offer no-cost consultations, allowing individuals who believe they have a medical malpractice claim for failure to diagnose the opportunity to sit down with a seasoned attorney to discuss the options available to them. For those who retain us, that personal attention and hands-on service continues throughout the entire process.
Failure To Identify The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack
There are a number of symptoms which should not be disregarded by medical professionals without conducting the necessary tests to effectively rule out a heart attack. The most common heart attack symptoms include:
- Pressure in the center of the chest
- Pain extending from your chest through your shoulder, arm, back and even jaw
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Impending sense of doom
Our diligent lawyers work closely with clients to learn about their situation, the symptoms that were presented to medical professionals and the care that they received as a result. Then, we conduct thorough investigations into the tests that were preformed and the accuracy of interpretation of those results. We regularly work with respected medical professionals to build effective cases that highlight the negligence that caused doctors and caregivers not to diagnose and treat heart attack symptoms effectively.
A Delayed Diagnosis Causes Real Damage
In the medical industry, and in emergency medicine specifically, there is a concept known as “the golden hour.” If a person receives medical care within that first hour in the vast majority of medical crises, they will survive. Delays in treatment are painful, costly and life threatening.
That sentiment is not just for emergencies. It can apply to every type of medical problem. You might not need your diagnosis within an hour of becoming ill or immediately upon your first symptom, but you shouldn’t have to wait forever for treatment. If your doctors and medical care team cannot diagnose you accurately or at all, you’re going to face considerable problems, including:
- Ongoing treatment costs
- Medication side effects that may be unnecessary
- Pain and suffering
- Lost time at work
These examples are all the best-case scenario. In worst-case scenarios, your life is at risk and you never know about it, potentially until it is too late.
The bottom line is that a delayed diagnosis is delayed treatment and delayed treatment is dangerous. If your medical providers put you at risk, you deserve compensation.
When To Seek A Second Opinion
A second opinion from a doctor is the first step to realizing your diagnosis is wrong or delayed. There is no set time to decide to get a second opinion for any medical prognosis, and the American Medical Association generally supports seeking a second opinion.
If you believe you are suffering from a delayed diagnosis or if your doctors are simply unable to answer your questions, it’s your right to seek a new doctor right away. However, if you are unsure of who to speak to regarding a new doctor or how to get a second opinion, we can assist you with that. As medical malpractice and delayed diagnosis attorneys, we have relationships with medical professionals all over Kentucky and can help you with this next step.
Contact A Kentucky Undiagnosed Disease Attorney
To schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Lexington attorney for failure to diagnose cases, contact the law office of O’Brien Batten Kirtley & Coomer, PLLC, at 859-554-4727.