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Failure to treat appendicitis can constitute medical malpractice

On Behalf of | Jan 4, 2019 | Firm News

If you have suffered appendicitis in the past, you will know that it is a very painful and dangerous condition. People of any age can suffer from appendicitis, and, in fact, it is estimated that 5 percent of people in the United States will suffer from it at some point in their lives.

Appendicitis is a treatable condition, and once it has been diagnosed, treatment can begin in the form of an appendectomy. This is a type of surgery that works to remove the appendix. Unfortunately, occasionally appendicitis sufferers are not diagnosed immediately. This leads to prolonged pain and emotional suffering. A delayed diagnosis can also be dangerous, because it can lead to a ruptured appendix.

Why might my appendicitis have been misdiagnosed or subject to a delayed diagnosis?

It can be difficult to quickly diagnose appendicitis because the symptoms are often similar to ailments such as urinary tract infections and Crohn’s disease. However, if you are suffering from prolonged abdominal pain that starts dull and becomes sharp, a high fever and you are a younger person, medical professionals should consider appendicitis as a possibility and test accordingly.

How is appendicitis diagnosed?

Appendicitis is almost always accompanied by inflammation. A doctor should first conduct an abdominal exam to see if they can sense any inflammation. A blood test should also be taken to establish if there is an infection in the body. A final confirmation of appendicitis can be done through an ultrasound or CT scan.

Can I take legal action to claim damages for my misdiagnosis?

If you believe that you should have been diagnosed with appendicitis earlier or if you were misdiagnosed, you may want to consider making a medical malpractice claim. Two main things need to be present in order for a medical malpractice claim to be successful. First, you need to show that the doctor in question acted incompetently or negligently. Next, you need to demonstrate the ways in which you suffered damages as a result of this incompetence or negligence.

It is important that you take action in order to gain the damages you deserve after a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis on Long Island.

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