Medical malpractice suit won in New York for misdiagnosis case

While many New Yorkers put off going to the doctor and either suffer through an illness or try to self-diagnose, sometimes there are situations where professional care must be sought. Few people enjoy going to the doctor, but understand that a medical professional's knowledge, expertise and access to appropriate treatments can prove invaluable. Unfortunately, despite years of training, mistakes do happen and can lead to a misdiagnosis. This form of medical malpractice can lead to unnecessary procedures and pain to the patient.

A recent medical malpractice trial concerning one of New York's leading neurologists has concluded, and the jury found in favor of the plaintiff. The man initially met with this doctor back in 2005, due to experiencing unusual symptoms. He was having difficulty maintaining his balance, causing him to constantly fall over. The neurologist diagnosed him as having a rare condition that required surgery and an extensive medication regimen. Despite the treatments, the patient claimed that the symptoms never improved.

The neurologist eventually moved on to a new position, and the patient began seeing another physician. His new physician provided a completely different diagnosis and began treatment. It wasn't until after this new diagnosis and course of treatment that the patient began to see improvements in his symptoms.

A medical malpractice suit was filed, claiming that the misdiagnosis led to unnecessary procedures, pain and even the dissolution of his marriage. The jury verdict awarded the man a monetary award of $4 million. His ex-wife was granted a $1 million judgment on a companion claim for loss of services. An appeal of the jury verdict is apparently underway.

There is no doubt that a misdiagnosis can be life-altering, resulting in needless tests, procedures, medications and undue stress. New York residents who have experienced this type of medical malpractice may be entitled to financial compensation for their ordeal. A lawsuit may be filed against the physician and/or medical facility believed to be responsible for the error, affording the opportunity to seek financial redress by proving the medical error in court.

Source: CBS New York, "Man Wins Verdict Of Nearly $4 Million Against Prominent NYC Neurologist", , April 14, 2014