People who suffer from chronic pain face very real day-to-day challenges that are often dismissed by medical professionals simply because the symptoms cannot be seen. If you have suffered a diagnosis error related to fibromyalgia, you need a compassionate and understanding Baltimore medical malpractice attorney on your side. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the impact that chronic pain can have on every aspect of your life and how negligent medical professionals can make that pain worse.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that triggers pain all over the body, sleep issues, tiredness and often emotional and mental distress. Sadly, it is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed medical conditions. According to one study by the National Institute of Health, misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia for another musculoskeletal disorder occurred in approximately 13.3 percent of the patients who were included in the study population. Another report indicates that as many as 2/3 of people are told they have fibromyalgia when they are actually suffering from another medical issue.
Individuals who have fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain, fatigue and muscle stiffness than people who do not have the condition. In some cases, symptoms start after a physical trauma or significant event (i.e., psychological stress, surgery, infection, etc.) while, in other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no specific triggering event. Many people with this disease are unable to work and lead normal lives due to the pain. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are several treatment options such as pain management and medications that can improve a patient’s quality of life.
Liability for Fibromyalgia Misdiagnosis
Part of the reason for the high rate of fibromyalgia misdiagnosis is because the signs and symptoms of the disease resemble and oftentimes look the same as other conditions. The condition can also differ from one person to the next, making diagnosis that much more challenging.
Regardless of how difficult a particular disease is to diagnose, it is imperative for medical professionals to provide a competent level of care to each and every patient. If your doctor misdiagnosed fibromyalgia or missed a fibromyalgia diagnosis altogether, you may be able to sue for medical malpractice. Of course, not all negative or undesirable outcomes are the result of medical malpractice. Rather, medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional’s treatment falls below what the medical community considers an accepted standard of care for a particular situation and this deviation from the accepted standard of care is the direct cause of injury or death to a patient. The following elements need to be established in order to win a medical malpractice claim:
- The medical professional owed the patient a duty of care;
- The medical professional breached the duty of care;
- The medical professional’s breach was a direct cause of the patient’s compensable harm.
Trusted Baltimore Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Medical malpractice claims can be daunting but you don’t have to face them alone. If you or a loved one has suffered from a fibromyalgia diagnosis error, you may be entitled to compensation. At Arfaa Law Group, our trusted Baltimore misdiagnosis malpractice attorneys will examine the circumstances surrounding your injury and create a custom legal plan that best suits the situation. We know how complicated these cases can be but with years of experience, we also understand how to navigate these claims. For more on your case, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.
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