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A Doctor Failed to Diagnose my Son’s Appendicitis: Can I Recover Damages?

A Doctor Failed to Diagnose my Son’s Appendicitis: Can I Recover Damages?

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix fills with bacteria, causing inflammation and pain. If identified at an early stage, appendicitis can be treated by prompt removal of the appendix. Though patients with diagnosed appendicitis generally make a full recovery, the condition is treated as a medical emergency because of the serious complications that may occur if it is not diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion. If left undiagnosed, appendicitis can cause the appendix to rupture and bacteria can leak into the abdomen. Rupture often leads to blood poisoning and infections and can be fatal if not immediately treated. Patients who suffer a ruptured appendix often require extensive medical treatment and hospitalization and may experience many complications.

Because of the risks of a ruptured appendix, it is imperative that a doctor correctly diagnoses appendicitis when a patient comes into the emergency room. If you or your child is showing any of the symptoms of appendicitis, an ER doctor should do the following:

  • Perform a thorough physical examination
  • Blood tests
  • Urine test to rule out other conditions such as a urinary tract infection
  • X-rays, ultrasounds, or CT scans

Doctors should also thoroughly question a patient regarding when the pain started, the severity of pain, and any other symptoms they may be experiencing such as nausea or fever.

Recovering for a failure to diagnose

If you took your son to the ER, the doctor sent you home with a misdiagnosis of a less serious condition, and your son’s appendix later burst, California law gives you the right to receive proper compensation for the losses you and your son experienced. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional fails to meet the required legal duty of care and causes injury. If a doctor did not perform the proper tests or examinations and, therefore, your son suffered serious complications because of a ruptured appendix, that doctor should be held accountable for his or her actions. By filing a medical malpractice claim, your son may recover for:

  • Additional medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Any other relevant losses

Contact an experienced Sacramento medical malpractice attorney for help

Medical malpractice claims for failure to diagnose appendicitis can be complicated, so you always want to have a highly experienced medical malpractice attorney handling your case. There are strict time limits on filing this type of claim against a medical professional, so do not delay in calling the Teal Law Group at 916-448-1010 for a free consultation today.