Atlanta Testing Errors Lawyer
Diagnostic testing is only helpful if it is accurate. If errors are made in the testing process, it can result in a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose. From contaminated blood tests to seemingly harmless miscommunications, testing errors can make it difficult to diagnose and treat a patient correctly.
If you were injured due to the negligence of a medical provider, consider reaching out to an Atlanta testing errors lawyer. The medical malpractice attorneys at our firm can work with you to address your unique case.
Common Testing Errors
Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to administer, interpret, and report all tests properly and accurately. If there was a mistake in the administration, interpretation, or reporting of a lab test or imaging test or any type of test, it can result in an injury to the patient.
Failure to Test
When doctors are facing pressure from their facility or partners to cut costs, they may be encouraged to conduct fewer tests on patients. Medical providers may think they do not need a test to reach their diagnosis, but this can be a false assumption. It is important to perform tests to confirm suspicions and provide accurate information about a patient’s conditions.
Miscommunications Regarding Tests
At busy hospitals or medical centers, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for certain tasks. In an unorganized facility, the proper person may not be notified that a test needs to be ordered. In some cases, a medical provider might mislabel a specimen which could further delay the diagnosis. Often, there is confusion about who should report the test results to the ordering physician or the patient and, as a result, the results do not get reported.
Incorrectly Reporting Test Results
Occasionally, the correct tests are ordered and performed but they are not reported back accurately. For example, a provider may order a test but the lab could misinterpret the results and report incorrect information back to the doctor. No matter the reason for a testing error, a local attorney could help guide injured parties through their claim.
Consequences of Inadequate Testing in Atlanta
There are many negative outcomes associated with testing errors. If the wrong test or no test is ordered, the proposed treatment plan may not address the actual problem.
Delayed diagnoses can be fatal is a patient has a severe situation such as cancer. Those who have been adversely affected by a testing error should consider reaching out to a lawyer as soon as possible.
How To Prove Negligence and Liability
As in all medical malpractice cases, including a testing error claim, the injured party’s lawyers must prove negligence. Negligence may be a factor in a medical malpractice claim if the following statements are true:
- The medical provider owes the patient a duty of care;
- There was a breach of that duty; and
- There is a causal connection between the breach and the patient’s injury.
Anyone associated with the testing process could be held liable for errors. If a physician does not order a test despite the patient showing symptoms, he or she could also be held liable.
People working in the lab could be responsible if they do not perform the test properly. An experienced local attorney can help victims determine who is responsible for their testing errors.
Recovering Damages in an Inadequate Testing Trial
If a lawyer can prove the medical provider was negligent, an injured party could recover damages for past and future medical expenses and lost wages. Additionally, non-economic damages may be available for mental and physical pain and suffering, and the loss of enjoyment of life. Working with an experienced testing errors attorney in the area could improve your chances of recovering the maximum damages.
Work with an Atlanta Testing Error Attorney
Hospitals, healthcare professionals, and their insurance companies can take advantage of people attempting to file a claim without proper legal representation. If you are planning to file a medical malpractice claim, it is crucial to contact an Atlanta testing errors lawyer as soon as possible.
An experienced attorney at Warshauer Woodward Atkins could represent you throughout the claims process and help you recover monetary damages for your injuries. Call our office today for a free case review.
