When a medical misdiagnosis leads to brain trauma

Author: Lisa Coleman
Published: Jun 22 2013

Brain trauma can be something simple and last for a short period of time, such as nausea from a recent concussion. It may also be a debilitating injury that can cause your life to change in dramatic ways. Sadly, many forms of brain injury and their causes are overlooked, changing simple problems into lifelong injuries.

Some Common Misdiagnoses of Brain Injury

Stroke. Several people have been misdiagnosed due to age or other symptoms as having mental disorders. In truth, they have suffered a stroke and are not being properly treated for the condition. Some medications, and lack of the correct physical therapies, can cause the problems associated with strokes to worsen, leaving the victim of this misdiagnosis with more issues than the stroke originally caused.

Medication Interaction. This is especially true in elderly patients that take several different management medications. Drug interactions can cause the brain to become “foggy” and then these victims are diagnosed with dementia. Once dementia is diagnosed, additional medications are added, causing further brain trauma.

Birth Injuries. Some doctors fail to recognize that there are complications with a delivery and the baby suffers from lack of oxygen. This failure to perform a timely c-section often results in brain damage to the infant.

Encephalitis. This condition can cause many different symptoms, making a diagnosis a little harder, but not impossible. Encephalitis can either be viral, bacterial or autoimmune. Autoimmune encephalitis is the most often misdiagnosed form of this condition and can result in permanent brain damage.

What a Misdiagnosis Can Mean to You

The brain is a wonderful and mysterious organ. Scientists have openly admitted that they have only learned a fraction about the brain. This also includes how it reacts to injury. With this in mind, medical professionals must be very careful when diagnosing and treating injury and ailments relating to the brain.

A misdiagnosis can lead to permanent damage to the brain and different areas of the body. While some of these effects can be corrected with medication and therapy, many cannot. This is why it is so important to seek a second or third opinion if you feel you may have been misdiagnosed.

Everyone is entitled to receive the best medical care, and if you feel that your doctor has not correctly diagnosed or treated your problems, you should seek an additional evaluation. It is not uncommon to request second opinions on home repairs, car repairs or even interior design, so it should not be considered wrong to seek a second medical opinion.

What to do if a Misdiagnosis is Discovered

If, upon receiving a new diagnosis, you discover that your previous medical provider not only gave you the wrong diagnosis and treatment, but that you were harmed from that action, you should seek legal advice from a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney that represents cases in medical malpractice will be able to help you make a claim for compensation. It is also important that, when seeing legal counsel for such a case, you are sure to find local representation from the geographic area of where the misdiagnosis occurred. For example, if a doctor in New York made the misdiagnosis, then interview and seek legal representation from New York brain injury attorneys.

You should not be held liable for any additional medical costs associated with their misdiagnosis, nor should you suffer financially from the cost of future care to treat the problem. If your injuries have caused other problems, such as loss of enjoyment of life due, inability to work and provide for yourself and your family, or physical impairments, you may be entitled to additional compensation.

Overall, the most important thing that you can do is place your health above everything else. If you believe that you have been misdiagnosed, seek a second opinion. If you have been injured, hire an attorney. Your actions can help you through this rough period and possibly prevent others from being injured in the same manner.

Lisa Coleman stresses the importance of obtaining a second opinion if you are ever diagnosed with any major health issues. Bottar Leone PLLC, a New York brain injury attorneys firm, is experienced and knowledgeable in medical misdiagnoses cases that have led to brain injuries, and they can legally evaluate and prosecute such a case.

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