Failure To Diagnose Handle Your Legal Affairs With Confidence

Tulsa Failure to Diagnose Attorneys

Misdiagnosis, Delayed Diagnosis & Missed Diagnosis in Oklahoma

Diagnostic errors—including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and failure to diagnose—are among the most common types of medical malpractice in the United States. In fact, a John Hopkins study found that diagnostic errors comprised the vast majority of medical malpractice claims and resulted in the most severe patient harm, beating both surgical errors and medication mistakes. When doctors misdiagnose or fail to diagnose medical conditions and illnesses, patients cannot receive the care they need. This can have serious and even deadly consequences.

If you or someone you love was harmed by a diagnostic error, we invite you to get in touch with our Tulsa failure to diagnose attorneys right away. Since 1983, Brewster & De Angelis has been representing victims of medical malpractice and negligence throughout Oklahoma. We have earned a reputation for our compassionate client service, meticulous case preparation, and aggressive approach to litigation. We have successfully recovered many noteworthy settlements and verdicts for our clients—and we are ready to fight for you.

Common Diagnostic Errors

There are three main types of diagnostic errors:

  • Misdiagnosis: Misdiagnosis occurs when a patient receives an incorrect diagnosis of a medical condition. This is more likely to occur when a patient experiences a condition that has symptoms that mimic another condition or illness.
  • Delayed Diagnosis: A diagnosis is considered “delayed” when the delay is unreasonable. For example, if a doctor sees a patient and fails to order further tests or refer the patient to a specialist, the eventual diagnosis might be considered unreasonably delayed.
  • Missed Diagnosis: Also known as “failure to diagnose,” a missed diagnosis occurs when a medical provider does not provide any diagnosis to a patient. If a doctor cannot immediately diagnose a condition, they should refer the patient to a specialist or order further tests.

All three types of diagnostic errors can result in delayed treatment, which can, in turn, lead to worsening conditions and other complications.

Some of the most common diagnostic errors involve misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to diagnose the following:

  • Cancer, especially lung cancer
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Vascular events
  • Infection
  • Sepsis
  • Meningitis
  • Lyme disease
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Lupus
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Gastrointestinal issues

How Do Diagnostic Errors Happen?

Most instances of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and missed diagnosis are the result of medical negligence or error.

Diagnostic errors often result from:

  • Poor communication between medical providers/departments
  • Inexperience, overconfidence, and/or lack of knowledge or training
  • Ignoring some or all of a patient’s symptoms
  • Failing to order proper, timely diagnostic tests
  • Misanalysis of lab findings or misreading test results
  • Failing to consider a patient’s medical history
  • Fragmented care/patients seeing multiple providers
  • Spending insufficient time with a patient
  • Improper or lack of follow-up care

All medical providers—including primary care physicians, nurses, emergency departments, hospitals, and others—have a responsibility to uphold certain standards of care. When they fail to do this, serious diagnostic errors can happen, and patients can suffer severe injuries, complications, and death.

Who Is Liable for a Diagnostic Error?

As with any medical malpractice case, determining liability in cases involving diagnostic errors can be complicated. You must first prove that a medical provider failed to provide an acceptable level of care, leading to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or missed diagnosis. In some cases, the medical provider who made the mistake could be personally liable for the patient’s resulting injuries and damages; in other instances, the hospital or medical facility that employs the provider could be legally responsible.

It is important that you work with a skilled and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney, like those at Brewster & De Angelis, if you believe that your injuries or your loved one’s death was the result of a diagnostic error. Our Tulsa misdiagnosis attorneys can provide answers to your questions and the information you need to move forward in the legal process.

Fighting for Your Maximum Recovery

At Brewster & De Angelis, we recognize just how devastating an impact diagnostic errors have, both on the lives of victims and their loved ones. Because of this, our Tulsa failure to diagnose attorneys fight for maximum compensation for our clients. We know that no amount of financial recovery can undo the trauma you have endured as a result of a medical provider’s negligence, but we have also seen firsthand how a fair settlement or verdict can make a huge difference for those struggling with catastrophic injuries and losses.

If you or someone you love was harmed by a diagnostic error, don’t wait to contact our attorneys for the help you need. In Oklahoma, you only have two years to file a medical malpractice lawsuit; if you wait too long, you could lose your right to sue the liable party for damages.

Contact us right away for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call (918) 265-1214 or submit an online case evaluation form to get started.

Proven Results & Success

Hear From Our Past Clients
  • Mr. Mwafulirwa has an ability to communicate both orally and through the written word in a manner that sets him apart from others in the practice. In addition, his analytical capabilities are unmatched.

    - Attorney
  • From personal experience as an adversary, I know Mbilike to be a person of the highest character and integrity and an exceptional role model in the civic and legal communities.

    - Opposing Attorney
  • He is most ethical; always prepared; very professional; has a complete understanding of the facts and the applicable law in cases, and is very effective and persuasive. He is an outstanding litigator.

    - Judge
  • I have opposed Guy on several cases through the years and have always found him to be not only a formidable opponent, but also very ethical, professional, and easy to work with.

    - Attorney
  • Mr. Lair is a former colleague of mine. He is an excellent lawyer and of the highest moral character.

    - Attorney

What Sets Brewster & De Angelis Apart?

  • Available & Responsive

    The attorneys at Brewster & De Angelis are always available to provide you with updates and answer questions regarding your case. At the end of the day, we work for you and pride ourselves on being available regardless of the situation.

  • Focused On Your Best Interests

    When going through a legal matter, things can seem scary and uncontrollable. Our team works to refine the legal process in order to ensure you not only understand exactly what is going on, but also that your goals and interests are taken into account with every decision.

  • Collaborative Legal Strategies

    Unlike other law firms, we handle a small number of cases so that our team can focus on getting you results. When it is time to get ready for trial, you can be assured that our full team of litigators has convened to get you the best possible outcome.

  • Dedicated & Trusted Counsel

    At Brewster & De Angelis we have the top litigators in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we have been serving our community for over forty years, giving us the tools and knowledge to aggressively and effectively handle your case.

When Dealing With a Legal Matter, You Need Confidence