You can sue for misdiagnosis of a broken bone if a medical provider failed to diagnose, and you suffered harm because of that failure. Medical providers often fail to diagnose broken bones even when patients present with obvious symptoms, such as unbearable pain, bruising, swelling, and trouble moving the limbs.
A misdiagnosed broken bone causes a patient to suffer constant pain for an unnecessarily long period due to delayed treatment. It can also cause severe complications and life-altering consequences, including improper healing, limited mobility, amputations, and permanent disability. Medical malpractice lawyers in Chicago understand the life-changing impacts of broken bone misdiagnoses and can help victims recover the full extent of their damages from healthcare providers.
Who Can You Sue for Misdiagnosis of a Broken Bone?
Who you can sue for a broken bone misdiagnosis depends on the circumstances of your medical malpractice case. Generally, the following are the most common liable parties in medical malpractice claims involving broken bones:
An Emergency Room Physician
Emergency room physicians must satisfy the acceptable standard of care, regardless of any challenges. You can sue an emergency room physician for failing to diagnose your broken bone and starting proper and timely treatment.
General Physician
A broken bone misdiagnosis can happen if a physician fails to evaluate your condition thoroughly and ask the right questions about your symptoms. It can also occur when the physician fails to ask for correct or sufficient diagnostic radiographs. Failure to refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for a more specialized treatment can also cause a broken bone misdiagnosis.
Radiologist
A radiologist may fail to provide sufficient or correct information about unusual X-rays, CT scans, and other diagnostic radiographs. This failure may keep you from getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Orthopedic Surgeon
An orthopedic surgeon may fail to diagnose your broken bone. This usually happens when the surgeon does not speak with you or carefully listen to you regarding your symptoms. It can also occur when the surgeon fails to order appropriate diagnostic tests or misreads the test results.
Nurses
Nurses in emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and medical clinics play an instrumental role in the diagnostic process. You can name a nurse as a liable party in your claim if you believe the nurse failed to convey information that could have helped your doctor make a correct broken bone diagnosis.
Hospitals and Medical Facilities
Hospitals and medical facilities are not just buildings that house doctors and other health care providers. They are also employers. They can be liable for the negligent actions of their employees.
