Misdiagnosed? What to Do

Being misdiagnosed – it’s something that happens rarely but when it does, it can be truly devastating.

This form of medical negligence can have lasting consequences, both on your physical health and your mental wellbeing. You might find that you have wasted time on treatments that weren’t appropriate for you and that your original health condition has worsened as a result.

You could also find yourself struggling with the mental and emotional toll a misdiagnosis takes.

So what can you do after you’ve been misdiagnosed?

Get the right medical treatment

You might start experiencing anxiety about medical treatment if you’ve been so badly let down by the healthcare profession before.

Although it’s normal to worry about having to receive more medical care, you will need to get your initial health problem addressed – as well as any others that have resulted from your misdiagnosis.

You might want to ensure you’re not being treated by the same doctor or healthcare professional who misdiagnosed you in the first place. You could listen to recommendations from family and friends or use NHS data and reviews to make an informed decision about where to look for a new doctor, particularly if you were misdiagnosed by a GP.

Your health is the most important thing to focus on when dealing with a case of misdiagnosis so don’t neglect it.

Make a complaint

After you’ve received the right treatment, you can consider making a complaint to the healthcare trust or private provider.

If you want to complain to an NHS provider, you can write a letter of complaint. Simply set out the details of what happened, including all relevant details. This can include dates and times of appointments, people you dealt with and medication prescribed to you.

Send the letter to the person you want to deal with your complaint. You can complain directly to the service provider – a hospital, for example – or you can complain to the Care Quality Commission. Keep a copy of your letter for yourself. It could form evidence if you choose to take legal action.

Get help

A misdiagnosis isn’t something you should have to deal with yourself. It’s a traumatic and hugely upsetting experience, so help can be vital to getting you through and back on the road to recovery.

Relying on your loved ones is one way of ensuring you can get the support you may need. Make sure you’re keeping them updated on your symptoms and how you’re feeling. Let them help you if you are physically unable to do certain things as a result of your misdiagnosis, such as getting to and from work or doing your grocery shopping.

If you are struggling to manage even with the support of your family and friends, you could consider getting some professional psychological help. It can help you to overcome any knocks to your confidence and to get past any mistrust of the healthcare profession you’ve been left with.

Take legal action

Even after making a complaint and seeking out the right treatment to aid your recovery, you might still be left with a feeling of injustice. A misdiagnosis is not something you should have suffered from.

You are entitled to take legal action after being misdiagnosed. Making a No Win No Fee claim can help you access the compensation you may need to further enhance your recovery. This could help you pay for any necessary treatment, as well as anything you need to make your life more comfortable – such as mobility aids.

Being misdiagnosed is not something that should have happened to you. But if it has, you can do something about it.

To find out if you can make a claim, all you need to do is give us a call or start your medical negligence claim online. Our helpful and understanding claims advisors will discuss your situation and let you know what the best course of action is.