Patient Knowledge
While most patients like to feel like they are participating in their own health care, the fact is that most patients would have no idea what the results of any test they were given meant, in most cases. Patients are relying upon their physicians to give them an accurate interpretation of test results, whether it’s something as simple as a blood typing test or something as complex as a mammogram.
Because patients really don’t understand their own tests, it’s easy to take a doctor’s opinion at face value and to assume that there’s nothing wrong with you when you feel like there is, simply because the test results indicate that there isn’t. Remember that another physician looking at the same test results may get a vastly different opinion of what’s going on. Even if they don’t have a different opinion, they may feel that an intervention is needed to deal with a situation right away, while a different doctor may not think so.
Sometimes It’s too Late
Some Dallas medical malpractice lawyers end up taking misdiagnoses cases that are actually wrongful death cases. This, of course, is the worst possible outcome for any patient. When this happens, it’s because the family ends up suing for damages for having lost a member of their family, lost all of the income that that family member would’ve provided to support everyone and because they’re suing for other damages.
The best possible course of action to take is to make certain that you keep in mind that asking for a second opinion or asking to have another physician take a look at a test result is never out of line for a patient. You might get a dirty look from your doctor when you do it, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not doing the right thing. Even if the test says that you’re fine, remember that many medical malpractice claims – and wrongful death claims – involve situations where a doctor simply ignored the results of a test or when they didn’t realize how serious the problem the test indicated really was.