In any medical malpractice case, the burden of proof lies with the plaintiff—the injured party or their family. To successfully pursue a failure to diagnose claim, four key elements must be established: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Each of these elements is essential to proving that the healthcare provider’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care, leading to injury or death.
- Duty of Care: We must first demonstrate that a doctor-patient relationship existed, which created a legal duty of care. This means the provider was responsible for the patient’s diagnosis and treatment.
- Breach of Duty: Next, we must show that the healthcare provider breached this duty by failing to diagnose the condition as a reasonably competent provider would have under similar circumstances. This could involve overlooking symptoms, failing to order appropriate tests, or not acting on concerning test results.
- Causation: We also need to establish a direct link between the breach of duty and the harm suffered by the patient. This means proving that the missed or delayed diagnosis caused the patient’s injury, worsened their condition, or contributed to their death.
- Damages: Finally, we quantify the damages resulting from the failure to diagnose. These can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
Expert testimony is crucial in establishing these elements. Medical experts can explain what a competent provider should have done in the given situation and how the failure to diagnose deviated from that standard. An expert’s insights can help us build a strong case that demonstrates the healthcare provider’s negligence and the impact it has had on our client’s life.