Experiencing difficulty being diagnosed with a medical condition in Georgia can be frustrating and scary. When you’re unsure about your condition, time is often of the essence, and a diagnosis is necessary to treatment. After you’ve seen doctors and had tests with no conclusion, you may have to start at square one. If you’ve been misdiagnosed, you may be able to get differential diagnosis.
What is differential diagnosis and how does it work?
Unfortunately, medical malpractice happens. It can involve a misdiagnosis, improper treatment or a delay in treatment. When you have certain symptoms and have undergone medical tests without receiving definitive answers, you may turn to differential diagnosis to confirm an illness. The doctor will take all of the details into consideration, including your symptoms, previous tests, their own professional knowledge and other input to come up with possible diagnoses. Then, they can start to narrow down the list by determining which possible diagnoses don’t fit. The diagnosis that remains at the end of the process is quite likely to be the correct one.
What happens after you get a differential diagnosis?
You may want to take certain steps after the doctor has made a differential diagnosis of your condition. One of the first things that comes to mind is asking about treatment. However, you still don’t know for sure what condition you have until a definite diagnosis is made. This can bring up concerns of medical malpractice. You should ask the doctor about what else your condition might be. The information can be the key in the care you receive.
Knowing what potential diagnoses the doctor initially came up with and why each one was crossed off the list can mean a lot. You may be able to get more insight into your condition by learning from the doctor why these possibilities were eliminated.
If you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice, it may be time to consult an attorney. They can protect your rights and help you prepare a lawsuit so you can get the compensation you deserve.