Who's responsible for my misdiagnosed appendicitis?

In a medical malpractice case with a cause of action stemming from misdiagnosed appendicitis, the liable parties will vary from case to case. In general, liable parties may include hospitals, individual doctors, and by extension, the insurance companies covering malpractice claims against both entities. Typically, appendicitis cases follow a typical pattern, including:

• Patient experiences severe abdominal pain, worsening in an acute fashion. The patient either seeks treatment at an emergency room facility (most common) or seeks treatment from a primary care physician or medical clinic.

• Based on the initial visit, the attending medical professionals fail to recognize the signs of appendicitis, thus delaying treatment for a patient that otherwise need immediate treatment. In the case of patients visiting primary care doctors or a clinic, the attending physicians fail to recognize signs of appendicitis and fail to refer patient to emergency room.

• At this point, if a patient’s condition worsens, he or she will most likely once again seek medical treatment. During the interim period, the appendix may burst, presenting further serious, life threatening conditions.

• Once the appendicitis or ruptured appendix is diagnosed, the patient will undergo further treatment to rectify any ensuing damages.

The responsible, or liable, parties in a given appendix misdiagnosis case will at the very least be the initial attending physician, as well as in a limited number of instances, the hospital facility, clinic, or practice related to a given medical professional as well.

For more information and insight into your specific case, including help with determining who the negligent and potentially liable parties are in your medical malpractice case, it is important to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer.