How do you know if your doctor misdiagnosed you?

You trust your doctor to keep you in good health so that you can enjoy your life in Washington, but you suspect she did not check all the boxes after your last health scare. Were you a victim of a medical misdiagnosis? 

Healthgrades offers common signs of patient misdiagnosis. Determine if you could have a viable medical malpractice claim. 

Your appointment felt rushed

Doctors sometimes keep busy schedules, so they may not always give patients as much time and medical attention as they deserve. If your physician did not ask you about your symptoms, medical history or current prescriptions, she may not have all the information necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. 

You display symptoms common with multiple conditions

Some medical conditions require a thorough rundown of symptoms to rule out similar conditions. A physician may diagnose a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome when the person has lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. If you researched your symptoms and turned up several conditions, your doctor must dive deeper to provide an accurate diagnosis. 

Your doctor neglected to use all available diagnostic resources

Sometimes, medical practitioners do not use all available exams, tests and medical technology to narrow a diagnosis. If your cursory online research turned up tests for your symptoms that your doctor did not use, consider asking for a follow-up appointment to take a specific exam. 

Your prescription does nothing to address your condition

If your physician prescribed you a medication that does not treat your symptoms, you could have a misdiagnosis claim. Talk to your pharmacist and doctor about how long you should expect to see results. If that time frame passed already, let your doctor know. 

Do not doubt your gut instinct regarding your diagnosis. You cannot afford to play with your health.