California legal news reports that a 58-year-old man has been awarded $4.2 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The personal injury claim arose from a misdiagnosis. According to reports, the man underwent a surgical procedure on his left shoulder. During the surgery, doctors damaged the man's shoulder, leading to nerve palsy, permanent disfigurement and an inability to extend his arm or raise it over his head.
The man had worked as a laborer all of his life, and as the result lost the ability to earn a living in his chosen profession. Although he continues to work at the business, he is only able to perform special tasks that only involve his right arm.
Surgery was performed to remove a swollen lymph node. However had the correct tests been ordered, the doctor would have determine the man suffered from a bacterial infection and the surgery could have been avoided.
The first step to helping individuals who are sick is making a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Not only can a misdiagnosis lead to a delay in treatment, but the treatment provided can also exacerbate an issue or create unexpected harm – as allegedly did the surgery in this case. The failure to properly diagnose and treat a patient may often constitute medical negligence.
For more information, or if you believe that you may have suffered harm as the result of misdiagnosis, please contact the experienced California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.