Yes. If a delayed diagnosis allowed a treatable condition to progress and caused you additional harm, you may have a valid malpractice claim. For example, a delayed cancer diagnosis that allows the disease to advance to a more serious stage can significantly increase treatment costs and reduce survival outcomes.

We must demonstrate that the diagnostic error deviated from the standard of care, that a correct diagnosis would have been made by a competent physician, and that the delay or error directly caused harm to the patient. Medical expert testimony is central to establishing these elements.

Commonly misdiagnosed conditions include cancer, heart attacks, strokes, infections, appendicitis, and pulmonary embolisms. Misdiagnosis often occurs when symptoms overlap with other conditions, when physicians fail to order appropriate tests, or when test results are misread or overlooked.

Medical misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to correctly identify a patient’s condition. This includes a complete failure to diagnose, an incorrect diagnosis, or a significant delay in reaching the correct diagnosis. To constitute malpractice, the error must deviate from the accepted standard of care and cause harm.