Jersey County Misread Diagnostic Test Lawyer

Jersey County Misread Diagnostic Test Attorney

The United States has the best doctors in the world. Part of the reason they are the best is the equipment used for diagnosis. Complex diagnostic tools like x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and others are used by medical professionals, like radiologists, to find evidence of cancer, fractured bones, and other illnesses or injuries. You can find these complex diagnostic tools in most hospitals.

Misdiagnosis due to misread diagnostic tests in Jersey County can have devastating effects; the diagnostic technician may not diagnose a life-threatening condition until it is too late. Someone may be misdiagnosed with a disease like cancer and start receiving treatment which takes a heavy toll on the patient. If you suffered this type of medical error, contact an experienced lawyer for help.

Common Diagnostic Test and the Errors that Can Occur

Radiology

Radiology specializes in utilizing imaging procedures, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to diagnose and treat injuries. If a technician were to read test results improperly, it can be fatal to the patient.

Radiology errors can occur when the diagnostic technician or radiologist:

• Does not interpret the results accurately
• Does not recommend correct follow-up tests or treatment
• Fails to check previous radiology results
• Uses the wrong imaging techniques
• Did not receive adequate information
• Does not have the right patient files from the referring physician

Mammogram

Medical specialists administer the mammogram test when looking for breast cancer. Most women will receive a screening mammogram unless they discover a lump or a risk factor, then an intensive diagnostic mammogram is performed.

A radiologist first takes an x-ray and carefully reads the image to detect any of the warning signs of cancer. They review the history and possible risk for breast cancer along with previous x-rays. If any concerns arise, the technician will order additional tests.

While mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer, they are not perfect. Mammograms tend to show false positives that the medical specialist cannot ignore. According to a news article by the University of Rochester Medical Center, about 16% of women over 40 years will get recalled for further testing in their first mammogram. They will call back 10% for even more invasive tests. Few of those will get a cancer diagnosis. However, recalled women have a higher risk of getting breast cancer within ten years.

X-Rays

X-ray imaging is one of the most versatile testing methods available to medicine. Where intrusive methods were the only way to test for some diseases in the past, x-ray technology has made the tests safer and less painful. A professional can use x-rays to detect fractured or broken bones, lung cancer, pneumonia, and other diseases.

Misreading x-ray results can create many problems for the patient, like:

• Failing to diagnose cancer
• Not diagnosing an illness or disease
• Not diagnosing organ damage
• Failing to treat broke bones in time

Consult a Jersey County Attorney on Misread Diagnostic Tests

Contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for a consultation. Your case might fall into medical malpractice, and you may be eligible for compensation. In Illinois, either you or your attorney must file medical malpractice within two years of the incident or from the date you first notice there might be something wrong. You cannot file a medical malpractice lawsuit more than four years from the misdiagnosis unless the patient is a minor.