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Pneumonia Misdiagnosis? A Cleveland Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help (Part A)

When a medical condition is easily treatable and has obvious symptoms, yet a doctor fails to diagnose it, this could be a case of medical malpractice. One example would be a pneumonia misdiagnosis, which can become life-threatening without proper treatment or if treatment is delayed.

With so many different types of medical malpractice, it can be difficult to understand your rights. A Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer can better define medical malpractice so that you know if you have a claim worth pursuing.

An Overview of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is not an uncommon medical condition to develop. It is generally caused by an infection and leads to the lungs becoming inflamed. Symptoms typically include fatigue, cough, chills and fever. Pain is often felt in the chest, muscles and head.

Antibiotics can usually treat the disease. However, if it is not properly diagnosed or if treatment is delayed, it can become serious or even fatal. This is especially true if the patient’s immune system is already compromised with other health problems.

Diagnosing pneumonia is usually done with a physical examination. The doctor may use a stethoscope to listen for sounds in your lungs. An x-ray can help detect the source of the infection. The doctor may also run blood tests, which check your white blood cell count.

Types of Medical Malpractice: Causes of a Pneumonia Misdiagnosis

With the symptoms being recognizable to most doctors, it may seem that a pneumonia misdiagnosis could never happen. However, the reality is that it can and does happen more often than you might think.

When a pneumonia misdiagnosis leads to serious or life-threatening consequences, then you may have the right to seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Contact a Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer to define malpractice and determine what legal options may be available.

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