Often, when malpractice occurs in a hospital or doctor’s office, it is because a medical worker makes an overt mistake during a surgery or other medical procedure—such as giving too much medication, nicking an artery during surgery, or operating on the wrong body part.
However, malpractice can also happen when a doctor fails to perform a procedure, order a test, or take necessary action.
When a physician fails to diagnose and treat a patient’s medical condition, the patient could suffer irreparable harm.
Many serious illnesses and medical conditions respond better when treated early.
Any unnecessary delays in beginning medical treatment can cause the illness to worsen by giving it a chance to further develop and spread.
For example, if a dermatologist promptly identifies a troublesome spot on a patient’s skin as a possible skin cancer, they can perform a biopsy for confirmation.
If the biopsy confirms the patient has skin cancer, the physician could refer the patient to the appropriate specialist who could remove the cancerous lesion.
If the procedure is performed early enough, the patient might require no further treatment.
However, if the patient’s dermatologist fails to recognize the skin cancer, perform a biopsy, or remove the cancerous growth, the cancer could spread to other parts of their body.
In addition to causing pain and suffering, this could force them to undergo more medical procedures and jeopardize their overall health.
Our Toledo attorneys understand how devastating the situation can be when a doctor fails to treat a patient’s medical condition.
They work closely with patients and their families to seek justice.
