If you have suffered physical and financial consequences as the result of a failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis, it is in your best interest to speak with a skilled medical malpractice lawyer who can explain your legal options, and if necessary, help you file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
A medical malpractice lawsuit can help you receive the compensated you need for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Failure to diagnose and treat an illness or medical condition affects 155 out of every 1,000 patients. The most common undiagnosed conditions include:
o Toxoplasmosis
o Sleep disorders
o Osteoporosis
o Hypertension
o Migraine
o Thyroid disorders
o Ovarian cancer
Misdiagnosis and Emergency Room Treatment
In the emergency room, there are several conditions that are commonly misdiagnosed, including heart attack, stroke, meningitis, and appendicitis. In most heart attack misdiagnosis cases, the doctor may rely on the results of the ECG test to determine if you have experienced a heart attack; however this test is not always accurate.
If your doctor fails to diagnose your case, your symptoms may continue to get worse. This can cause a financial hardship as you undergo continuous tests in order to determine what is wrong.
Effects of a Misdiagnosis, Delayed Diagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
If you are misdiagnosed, the treatment and medications you take will be ineffective in treating your ailment. In some cases, the treatment and medications may be harmful. Your wrongly prescribed medications may mask symptoms that could lead to the correct diagnosis.
If a correct diagnosis is delayed, your condition may worsen to the point where it is in curable. In extreme cases, failure to diagnose or missed diagnosis may lead to death.
The financial consequences of failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis are serious. The cost of medical treatment, testing, and medications can add up, costing thousands of dollars. Your employment may also be affected by a delayed diagnosis as you use up all of your Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) time trying to determine what is wrong.
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
If your health has been affected by failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis, you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor or hospital responsible to help you recover the compensation necessary to pay for your extensive medical bills, further treatment, and other expenses related to your injury.
In order to prove medical malpractice in court, or when negotiating with insurance companies for a settlement, it is important to consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney in your area who can guide you through the often complicated and frustrating legal process of recovering compensation.
Insurance companies and hospitals will often attempt to settle quickly in order to avoid costly legal fees, however, the amount of compensation offered is usually far below what those injuries will cost you and your family in lost wages and medical treatment, not to mention the significant loss of quality of life that usually accompanies the serious medical conditions that often result from a failure to diagnose.
A qualified medical malpractice attorney can help your family gather and examine medical records and other evidence, as well as call upon expert medical testimony to prove your case in court. Most states have a statue of limitations that may prevent you from filing a medical malpractice lawsuit if too much time has passed so it imperative to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.
If you have been seriously injured as a result of someone else's negligence in Massachusetts, visit http://www.TomKileyLaw.com to learn about your rights and options under the law.
Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, has been representing individuals against insurance companies since 1976. He was referred to as the "Million Dollar Man" in a featured article by the Boston Herald Sunday Magazine in it's "Personal Best Series." This was based on his record of obtaining million dollar verdicts and settlements in complex cases in which he represented injured victims against insurance companies.
Mr. Kiley is a respected member of numerous professional organizations including the American Association for Justice, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He has achieved the highest possible rating (AV) for both legal ethics and ability by Martindale-Hubbell, the definitive guide to America's leading lawyers and law firms.
Filed under Health Insurance by on Sep 10th, 2010. Comment. 
So the dems version of health care reform is forcing everyone buy health insurance or go to jail?
So who's in the pockets of the insurance companies now dems? All Pelosi and Obama are doing is giving them tens of millions of new paying policy holders.
Did I read it right, plans starting at $15,000? failure to pay $25,000fine/5years in prison?
Filed under Health Insurance by on Aug 1st, 2010. Comment.
Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI)
Since the population of older Americans is booming, many people are concerned about needing nursing care at some point in the future. This care can be very expensive, and many experts say it averages about $50,000 a year in the US. That amount of money could certainly put a dent into retirement savings. This may be money you need, or you may want to leave it to a spouse or children. That is why we are encouraged to consider buy LTCI today.
But this coverage can also be expensive, especially for older people on fixed incomes. While premiums for a 50 year old could be less than $1,000 a year, the premiums for a 75 year old could be almost $6000 a year. Before deciding to spend that much money on a policy, take the time to consider your options.
Long Term Care Insurance Alternatives
Medicare only pays for short term nursing care. Medicaid, on the other hand, will pay for long term nursing. But you must use an approved service provider. In addition, Medicaid will only accept people with very low incomes and very few assets. In order to qualify for Medicaid, you have to deplete your income first.
If you want to preserve your wealth, you would want to look for another option. There are some financial and insurance products that can be adjusted to serve double duty. They are purchased for a primary reason, but may also used to provide some backup protection against the rising cost of nursing care.
- Life Insurance - You can look for policies with riders that will allow you to take some of the death benefit while you still alive under specific conditions. A terminal illness or nursing home could be included. If you never need nursing care, your family will still inherit the death benefit. But if you need money for a nursing home, this rider can come in very handy.
- Retirement Annuities - These are purchased to provide retirement income. But some come with riders that will cover nursing care. Again, you can benefit from the income if you do not need nursing care. If you need it, you will have a resource to draw on.
- Life Settlements - These are becoming more and more popular. Some older people will sell their life insurance policies to an investor or company. In return, they get some percentage of the death benefit to use now, while they are still living. This only works with whole or universal life, or with term policies that can be converted to whole life.
The Best Long Term Care Planning For You
As with almost any other financial decision, the best choice will be influenced by your own unique situation. The amount of money you have to protect, your income, and many other things will need to be considered. It would be good to speak with some retirement planners or financial professionals to learn more about your options.
Just be wary of any advisor who only wants to sell you one option without looking at alternatives. In my opinion, any plan you finally choose will be better for yourself, and for your family, than having no plan at all!
Are you planning for the future?
Learn more about long term care insurance alternatives.
We also can help you find long term care insurance costs in your area.
Filed under Health Insurance by on Jul 16th, 2010. Comment.