Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis Attorneys in Dayton, OH
When a doctor gives the wrong diagnosis or fails to diagnose a serious condition in time, the consequences can be devastating. A delayed or faulty diagnosis can turn a treatable condition into a life-threatening emergency. Patients lose valuable time, treatment options become limited, and families are left with mounting medical bills and uncertainty.
At Attorney Michael Wright, our Dayton misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose lawyers represent patients and families whose lives have been altered by medical errors. We hold negligent healthcare providers accountable when their mistakes cause serious harm.
Common Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose Cases in Dayton
Diagnostic errors occur in every area of medicine, but some conditions are more frequently missed or mistaken than others. Our Dayton delayed diagnosis attorneys have successfully represented clients in cases involving:
Cancer Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis
Cancer is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions. Our attorneys handle cases involving breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, and melanoma, where a timely diagnosis would have given patients more treatment options and better outcomes.
Heart Attack and Stroke Misdiagnosis
Emergency rooms and urgent care centers frequently see patients with chest pain, dizziness, or sudden neurological symptoms. When these are dismissed as indigestion, stress, or fatigue, the result can be catastrophic. Our attorneys represent victims whose heart attacks or strokes were misdiagnosed or not diagnosed in time, leading to permanent disability, brain damage, or wrongful death.
Failure to Diagnose Serious Infections
Infections like sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia progress quickly and require immediate treatment. A doctor’s failure to recognize symptoms or order timely lab tests can allow these infections to spread. Misdiagnosed or undiagnosed infections are a common basis for malpractice lawsuits, especially in children and elderly patients.
Other Dangerous Diagnostic Errors
Our Ohio law firm also handles misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis cases involving appendicitis, pulmonary embolism, blood clots, and other serious conditions where delays in treatment lead to avoidable harm. In each case, we investigate whether the provider followed the accepted standard of care and whether an earlier, accurate diagnosis would have prevented injury.
Compensation in a Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose Lawsuit
Ohio law allows victims of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and failure to diagnose to seek financial recovery for the harm caused. Compensation in these cases may include:
- Medical expenses: Patients may recover the costs of past treatment, ongoing care, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and the future medical needs that arise when a condition progresses unchecked.
- Lost income: Damages often include wages already missed and diminished earning capacity if the patient cannot return to work or can no longer perform the same type of employment.
- Pain and suffering: A malpractice claim may account for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life that follow a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
- Long-term care costs: In the most severe cases, compensation may cover in-home nursing, specialized medical equipment, or assisted living arrangements.
In especially serious claims, recoveries can reach six or even seven figures. Our Dayton misdiagnosis attorneys have obtained substantial results for clients across Ohio in cases involving failure to diagnose life-threatening conditions. These outcomes demonstrate the high stakes involved when diagnostic errors lead to irreversible harm.
What Can You Do if a Doctor Misdiagnoses You?
If negligence by a doctor or medical facility has compromised your health or that of someone you love, don’t wait. In Ohio, most medical malpractice claims, including those for misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, must be filed within two years from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Missing this deadline can bar recovery, so it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as you suspect a medical error.
Contact A Misdiagnosis Lawyer in Ohio Today For A Free Consultation
With decades of experience in Ohio medical malpractice cases, our Ohio law firm has the resources, medical knowledge, and trial skills needed to pursue full compensation for victims of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and failure to diagnose cases. Call Attorney Michael Wright today at (937) 222-7477 or fill out our online form to learn how we can help you move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Misdiagnosis Cases
Yes. If a doctor or medical facility fails to recognize symptoms or delays identifying a condition, and that error causes harm, you may file a medical malpractice claim. In these cases it must be proven that that the provider’s conduct fell below the accepted standard of care and that the missed diagnosis directly led to injury or worsened illness.
Misdiagnosis cases take several months to resolve. The timeline depends on how complex the medical evidence is, whether expert testimony is required, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Attorneys often wait until a patient’s condition and long-term prognosis are clear before finalizing a claim, which helps ensure all damages are fully accounted for. Speak with a misdiagnosis lawyer today to get a better understanding of your case, and a realistic timeframe for your lawsuit.
To establish a medical misdiagnosis claim, you must show that a healthcare provider’s error in diagnosis directly harmed your health. If you can link the provider’s failure to harm, you have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. For a free case evaluation, contact Attorney Michael Wright today.
Compensation for medical misdiagnosis varies widely, depending on several factors:
Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Costs of long-term care or rehabilitation
Pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life
While some claims settle for tens of thousands of dollars, others can result in seven-figure verdicts or settlements. Forensic economists often play a crucial role in these cases. They provide expert analysis of your economic losses, including hospital bills, ongoing treatment costs, and projected lifetime earnings. Their insights help ensure your Dayton medical malpractice lawyer can pursue the full value of your claim, and give the defendant a clearer picture of their financial risk.
For a case-specific evaluation, it’s best to consult an experienced Ohio medical malpractice attorney and qualified economic experts.
While many conditions can be misdiagnosed, cancer tops the list in emergency and general medical settings. Cancers of the breast, colon, and cervix are frequently missed or diagnosed late. Other conditions prone to misdiagnosis include:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Serious infections
Awareness of these pitfalls can help patients advocate for timely testing and second opinions.
Yes. A misdiagnosis rises to the level of malpractice when a doctor fails to meet the accepted standard of care, and that failure directly causes you harm. To prove malpractice, you must show:
- The doctor owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty by misdiagnosing you.
- You suffered an injury as a result of their error.
If all three elements are present, you have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Attorney Michael Wright
- (937) 222-7477 (Call or Text)
- (937) 222-7911 (Fax)
- 130 W. Second St. Suite 1600 Dayton, OH 45402