D.C. Colonoscopy Misdiagnosis Lawyer
A colonoscopy can be a lifesaving procedure if your doctor can locate and remove ulcers, polyps, and cancerous lesions. However, you could suffer serious repercussions if your colonoscopy is not correctly performed and your doctor does not properly diagnose your health issues after the procedure. If you do suffer injuries or illness due to a colonoscopy misdiagnosis, you need a D.C. colonoscopy misdiagnosis lawyer. At The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates, you will find compassionate yet aggressive legal advocates ready to take on your misdiagnosis case.
Contents
- What Is a Colonoscopy?
- Can Injuries Occur Due to a Colonoscopy?
- What Are Some Common Colonoscopy Errors?
- What Are the Side Effects of a Colonoscopy?
- Is a Cancer Misdiagnosis Considered Malpractice?
- How Do I Prove a Misdiagnosis?
- Can I Get Compensation for a Colonoscopy Misdiagnosis?
- Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Misdiagnosis Lawsuit?
- Contact a Washington, D.C., Medical Malpractice Lawyer
What Is a Colonoscopy?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a colonoscopy is an exam to find issues in the large intestine and rectum. Changes doctors may look for include swollen tissue or cancer. The physician uses a scope to remove polyps or other abnormal tissue observed during the colonoscopy. They may also collect tissue samples (“biopsy”) to test.
Can Injuries Occur Due to a Colonoscopy?
Although a colonoscopy is a relatively short, routine procedure, injuries sustained or conditions provoked during a colonoscopy can be severe or even fatal, including:
- Colonic perforation
- Acute and severe abdominal pain
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
- Intestinal obstructions
- Pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Anesthesia complications
What Are Some Common Colonoscopy Errors?
Unfortunately, colonoscopy errors are all too common and can lead to a medical malpractice claim. Such errors include:
- Physician negligence – Errors can occur if the doctor tries to pass the colonoscopy scope through an overly dilated colon. A misdiagnosis can occur if the doctor performs the procedure when the patient’s bowel preparation is inadequate, resulting in poor visualization.
- Equipment failure – Because there are no government regulations for maintaining or cleaning colonoscopy scopes, complications may occur that are related to equipment failure or malfunction.
- Failure to diagnose – The doctor may fail to diagnose cancerous growths if they perform the procedure too quickly or do not harvest enough tissue.
- Failure to treat – Sometimes, bowel perforations can occur during a colonoscopy. The doctor has a duty to diagnose this complication and treat it immediately during the procedure.
- Failure to prescribe a colonoscopy – If a patient presents with bleeding or other symptoms consistent with colon cancer, such as acute abdominal pain, prescribing a colonoscopy could be an appropriate diagnostic measure.
What Are the Side Effects of a Colonoscopy?
Severe side effects can result from a colonoscopy. Because the procedure requires sedation, it does carry some risk. Some possible post-colonoscopy conditions may include:
- Bleeding
- Infections
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Hypoxia
- Aspiration pneumonia
Is a Cancer Misdiagnosis Considered Malpractice?
If your doctor fails to diagnose your colon cancer, you could have a malpractice claim. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can review your circumstances and determine whether you have a case. They will analyze whether the delay in receiving a diagnosis reduced the effectiveness of your treatment. For example, if a doctor’s negligence required a more aggressive treatment plan than they may otherwise have prescribed if the cancer had been correctly and timely diagnosed, you may have a malpractice case and the right to seek compensation.
How Do I Prove a Misdiagnosis?
To bring a successful misdiagnosis claim, you must have enough evidence to prove that you were wrongfully treated by a medical provider. Specifically, you must establish that your doctor’s misdiagnosis of your condition or the delays in providing an accurate diagnosis resulted in delayed treatment, no treatment, or incorrect treatment, ultimately causing rapid physical decline.
Proving a misdiagnosis is difficult, but an experienced medical malpractice attorney can build a strong case on your behalf. Your attorney will gather the necessary evidence to support the misdiagnosis claim, including medical records and expert testimony about the standard of care.
Can I Get Compensation for a Colonoscopy Misdiagnosis?
A staggering 795,000 U.S. residents die or suffer permanent disability every year due to a medical misdiagnosis. If you suffered injuries or disabilities due to a colonoscopy misdiagnosis, you could seek compensation in court through a civil lawsuit. The amount of compensation varies from case to case and depends on the nature and severity of your injuries and losses.
At The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates, we can pursue money for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We will also fight for compensation to cover future losses. In the case of a colonoscopy misdiagnosis, this could include money for future surgeries, specialized equipment, and long-term care. We aim to demand the financial support our deserving clients require after they were harmed by a misdiagnosis.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Misdiagnosis Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations establishes the deadline for filing your lawsuit in court. In Washington, D.C., this deadline is three years from the date the medical malpractice injury occurred. In the context of a colonoscopy misdiagnosis, this date would be calculated from the date you discovered the injuries or harm caused by your misdiagnosis.
Because of the time-sensitive nature of filing a lawsuit, it is crucial to contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible after you realize there was a misdiagnosis. Failure to file your lawsuit within the time frame set by the statute of limitations may result in the court dismissing your case. To preserve your opportunity to seek compensation in court, consult a lawyer who can keep track of this deadline and ensure your case is filed on time.
Contact a Washington, D.C., Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you were injured or suffered harm due to a colonoscopy misdiagnosis, contact a medical malpractice lawyer at The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates. Michael M. Wilson, our founding attorney, has a medical and law degree, so he is well-qualified to handle your case. We have secured over $100 million for our deserving clients like you who have suffered injuries at the hands of a medical provider. Please contact us to discuss your situation in a free case review.
