The Dangers of Delayed Diagnosis
For a huge variety of different medical problems, it is imperative that you got prompt and immediate medical treatment. While any medical condition should be treated right away, a delay in diagnosis can be more serious with certain illnesses than with others. For example, some of the different conditions that can be most adversely affected by delayed diagnosis include:
- Brain injuries. Often, there are no outward symptoms or the symptoms of a brain injury may not seem as severe as they really are. Unfortunately, bleeding, bruising or swelling of the brain that is not diagnosed can be fatal.
- Internal bleeding. Just like with brain injuries, there may not be a clear outward symptom associated with every internal injury that causes bleeding. Left untreated, however, internal bleeding can be fatal.
- Diabetes. Left untreated, diabetes or even pre-diabetes can do serious damage to the body. Kidney problems may become exacerbated by out-of-control insulin levels and undiagnosed diabetes could increase the risk of complications such as blindness or amputation.
- Blood clots. A blood clot can cause serious damage to the body, especially if it travels to the brain and causes a stroke.
- Cardiac problems. An undiagnosed cardiac condition can result in your heart continually having to work harder. The risk of a heart attack may increase and the outcome could potentially be fatal.
- Cancer. A 2008 article printed in Wired.com reported that there may be up to a 90 percent cure rate for many cancers diagnosed early while the survival statistics on those diagnosed with advanced cancer dropped to 10 percent.
- Arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to prevent joint deformities and other complications associated with this potentially debilitating disease.
These are just a few examples of the many types of medical problems that can quickly become worse if not diagnosed promptly. In fact, almost any medical condition becomes more serious the longer it is allowed to persist.
see how we've made a difference
If you are hesitating to call us for help, take a look at our recent case results.
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$1,320,000 $1.32 Million for Man Involved in T-Bone Collision
Man Involved in T-Bone Collision
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$1,600,000 $1.6 Million Wrongful Death
Anonymous Wrongful Death Case
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$360,000 $360k for Man Injured in a Motorcycle Accident
Man Injured in a Motorcycle Accident
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$115,000 $115k Settlement for Individual Struck in the Rear by Intoxicated Driver
Settlement for Individual Struck in the Rear by Intoxicated Driver
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$100,000 $100k for Woman Involved in Automobile Accident & Suffered Elbow Injury
For Woman Involved in Automobile Accident & Suffered Elbow Injury
An Attorney Can Help After a Delayed Diagnosis
If you or a loved one is harmed as a result of a delayed diagnosis, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the doctor or healthcare provider responsible for your delayed treatment. The ability to file such a claim will depend both on whether you can prove it was negligent for the doctor not to diagnose you correctly as well as whether you can prove that the delayed diagnosis actually caused you some type of harm.
Medical malpractice cases based on delayed diagnosis can have many legal complications. For instance, first you will need to show that a reasonably competent doctor in the same position as your physician would have diagnosed you properly and that it was unreasonably poor care for your doctor to have made the mistake. Only by showing that no reasonable doctor with the same background would have delayed your diagnosis can you hold your doctor accountable. Second, you will need to show that the doctor's failure actually caused you to suffer some type of additional harm that you wouldn't have suffered if you'd been diagnosed in a more timely manner.
An Atlanta delayed diagnosis lawyer can help you to get the evidence you need to prove all of the necessary elements of a medical malpractice claim. Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys understand delayed diagnoses cases and can put together convincing evidence, including expert testimony, to show why you were harmed and why you deserve to be compensated for the harm.
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Van Sant Law has recovered millions in compensation for our clients’ benefit.
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Attorney David M. Van Sant is one of the best injury trial attorneys here in the Atlanta area. They are precise and unique in their approach. When I had my car accident, my whole world was turned upside down, but with Attorney Van Sant and his team of professionals dedication and quality of service, my life is back on track.
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My attorney, David Van Sant and his law firm were outstanding in handling my personal injury case. I was out of work for a considerable amount of time due to an automobile accident and Mr. Van Sant and his entire team were always kind, professional, knowledgeable and especially available. This law firm did their absolute best to answer and return calls and at no time did I ever feel like just a number or stranger. My experience with Mr. Van Sant and his law firm (from beginning to end), were very positive as well as favorable.
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