Seeing a doctor is the first thing to do when you feel sick. You go to the office, have your doctor check you out and run to the pharmacy to get whatever medicine will make you better.
But what would you do if your doctor was wrong? Your issue could be serious-and you should know what to do if you think your doctor misdiagnosed you.
Serious conditions aren’t recognized correctly
Doctors may misread your chart, misunderstand what you say or even just miss a symptom. Diseases that your doctor doesn’t treat might be life-threatening. Some of the health issues that get incorrectly diagnosed most often are:
- Cancer
- Heart attacks
- Depression
- Strokes
- Fibromyalgia
Many physicians don’t know as much about mental health-so they might not recognize serious mental illness. Other diseases share symptoms with less serious conditions such as anxiety or migraines and don’t get the attention that they require.
How to prepare for your appointment
You can help your doctor make an accurate assessment by being open with them. To make the most of your visit, you should consider:
- Seeing a doctor that you trust
- Preparing what you are going to say so that you don’t miss any symptoms
- Not leaving anything out-even if it is embarrassing
- Bringing someone with you who might help you explain the problem
- Asking as many questions as you need to understand
You should always be up front with your doctor-but it isn’t your responsibility in the end to diagnose a disease. You aren’t the one who is supposed to know what cancer or heart attacks look like. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion if you are unsure about your diagnosis.
If you feel like your doctor made a mistake, you should know your options to hold them accountable. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve for your misdiagnosis.