Delayed treatment occurs so frequently that many people are unaware that they have even received a delayed treatment. For the most part, a delayed treatment occurs due to contributing factors such as failing to properly diagnose an illness or condition that a patient may have, taking too long to detect which condition that patient may have, or telling the patient that they have a condition of which they do not. When a nurse or a surgeon within the field of medicine exercises medical negligence, any of the above three circumstances can take place, along with for other reasons. When a patient has a condition, disease, or illness that receives a delayed treatment, this could be detrimental to the patient’s health because many conditions depend on the swift and effective effects of treatment.
If a patient is injured even further because a health care provider delayed their access to immediate treatment, the damages that they obtain as a result can be litigated for. The recovery time and healing process of the patient who had a delayed treatment will not be as effective and the patient may acquire additional conditions, injuries, or even become a victim of a wrongful death. Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice delayed treatment lawyers understand how crucial it is for a patient with a condition or injury to receive treatment as soon as possible. The patient and the medical provider will only suffer negative consequences due to the delay.
Why Do Patients Receive Delayed Treatment?
When a patient receives delayed treatment, they may be subjected to a life of having to repair the damage that has been done with additional surgeries, therapy, and even by consuming multiple medications. Delayed treatment is associated with diagnostic negligence, but negligence during the diagnosis of a condition can happen due to a number of different factors, including:
- Not ordering all indicated test for the patient to undergo
- Not noticing symptoms when the physician should have
- Ignoring any concerns that the patient is addressing
- Misinterpreting the results that were given
- Not speaking with patient immediately after obtaining results
Data on Delayed Treatment
- About 20% of malpractice claims are due to a diagnostic negligence causing a delay in treatment
- In 2012, 39.5 billion was wasted due to delay of treatment
Questions on Delay of Treatment and The Answers to Them (FAQS)
Question: If I was delayed treatment does that automatically mean that I can pursue a lawsuit?
Answer: No. The delayed treatment must have caused a negative change to the patient’s prognosis. If the patient became further injured, damaged, or even die because of the delayed treatment, then the victim of their family can file a claim.
It is Crucial to Receive Correct and Swift Treatment
While there are some conditions that require immediate treatment, it is important that all conditions are treated equally and are all given the appropriate treatment plan in a swift manner. When medical providers fail to do so, if damages are obtained from it, a skilled lawyer from the Fort Lauderdale firm of Percy Martinez for delayed medical treatment malpractice can begin the process of filing a claim and fight to attain a fair compensation for their client.