A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can lead to serious health complications. This can happen where the patient was not provided with a timely diagnosis during a critical window, causing the patient to lose their chance to recover from the particular illness or condition. On some occasions, patients are diagnosed with the wrong condition, leading to treatment that is either not helpful or, in some cases, harmful.
Whether the delayed or incorrect diagnosis causes cancer to progress, a brain injury to worsen, or for inappropriate medicine to be administered, the patient has legal rights that can be asserted against the medical provider.