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When performed correctly by qualified medical professionals, colonoscopies are low-risk procedures that can be key to identifying various gastrointestinal problems, including and especially colorectal cancers at early stages of development. However, if medical professionals involved in a colonoscopy do not meet the standard of care expected of them, they may miss crucial signs of a serious problem—or alternatively, diagnose a patient with a medical condition they do not actually have.
Either of these outcomes could potentially serve as grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit, which the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams can help you pursue. From identifying the specific people to blame for your substandard medical treatment to demanding comprehensive compensation for the losses you have suffered as a result, a dedicated Philadelphia colonoscopy misdiagnosis lawyer will provide invaluable help throughout your legal proceedings.
How Can a Doctor’s Negligence Lead to a Colonoscopy Misdiagnosis?
No medical procedure is entirely without risk, and by giving informed consent to undergo a colonoscopy, patients accept at least some risk of a bowel perforation, infection, or other adverse effect, even if their doctors perform the procedure as carefully and skillfully as possible. However, informed consent does not give doctors the right to ignore or miss possible signs of an illness due to recklessness or carelessness on the job, nor does it absolve them of responsibility if their erroneous understanding of a patient’s condition leads to that patient suffering avoidable physical harm.
If a doctor causes harm to a patient in this way, they may have violated the “standard of care” applicable to them, which is established based on what other qualified physicians would and should have done under the same circumstances. Proving this is the primary goal of virtually every malpractice lawsuit, and it is what a Philadelphia colonoscopy misdiagnosis attorney can help establish through private settlement talks or, if necessary, a lawsuit in civil court.
Seeking Restitution Within Filing Time Limits
Failure to identify a serious injury or illness during a routine colonoscopy can lead to that condition getting substantially worse as it continues to go untreated, and misdiagnosing a patient with the wrong condition can lead to that patient suffering harm through intensive treatment that serves no medical purpose. Either way, a patient hurt through colonoscopy misdiagnosis malpractice in Philadelphia can seek compensation afterwards for both economic and non-economic losses they can connect back to that malpractice, including:
- Medical bills
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost work income and/or working ability
- Mental anguish and trauma
- Disability management costs and other out-of-pocket expenses
- Decline in quality of life
However, even if a patient experiences debilitating and permanent losses due to their doctor’s negligence, they typically have only two years to file a malpractice claim under the statute of limitations. This is one of many reasons why contacting a lawyer quickly after a suspected instance of malpractice can be crucial to the success of the case.
Consider Working With a Philadelphia Colonoscopy Misdiagnosis Attorney
While undergoing a colonoscopy may not be a particularly comfortable experience, it should always be a productive one, providing your doctors with valuable information to factor into your care. If your doctor failed to diagnose you correctly because they failed to perform a colonoscopy correctly beforehand, you may be able to file suit against them and seek restitution for damages that go far beyond physical discomfort.
A member of the Lowenthal & Abrams legal team can be a steadfast ally from the beginning to the end of your malpractice proceedings. Call today to learn what a Philadelphia colonoscopy misdiagnosis lawyer can do for you.
