Even when mental disorders are properly managed, patients face challenges. However, a failure to diagnose mental health conditions can lead to even more harmful and potentially devastating consequences. If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of an undiagnosed mental health issue, or you have tragically lost a loved one due to negligence in diagnosis, our caring and knowledgeable Albuquerque medical malpractice lawyer at Keller & Keller is here to help.
We’ll evaluate your situation and help you understand your options. Our compassionate legal team has been fighting for patients’ rights in medical malpractice cases for over 80 years, and we want to help you.
How a Failure to Diagnose Happens With Mental Health Conditions
Failure to diagnose is a common type of medical malpractice lawsuit. However, mental health conditions can be challenging to diagnose because there are no single physiological tests to prove specific disorders.
There are steps medical providers can take. They may conduct medical testing to rule out physical causes of psychological symptoms and use a number of strategies to diagnose mental health conditions. This includes evaluating the patient according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). They can evaluate symptoms, characteristic signs, thoughts, and behaviors over time. There can be a number of situations that result in a failure to diagnose mental health conditions, including:
- Lack adequate time spent with the patient to fully understand and evaluate the symptoms
- Failure to correctly identify and treat the symptoms the patient is experiencing
- Failure to assess or treat a high-risk patient appropriately
- Lack of or inadequate training on the clinician’s part
- Failure to assess medical history
- Misdiagnosing and treating a mental health condition when it is not the correct one
- Unreasonable delays in diagnosis or care
- Other miscellaneous errors in a health provider’s judgment, care, or treatment
If this has happened to you or a loved one and you suspect malpractice, our Albuquerque medical malpractice lawyer can help evaluate your case and explain the next steps.
Commonly Misdiagnosed Mental Disorders
Many mental health issues are commonly misdiagnosed. These include:
- PTSD
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression and major depressive disorder
- ADHD
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety disorders
Consequences of a Failure to Diagnose Mental Health Conditions
The impact of failing to diagnose or treat mental health disorders can be devastating. Our Albuquerque medical malpractice attorney explains some of the key ways it can affect you or a loved one.
1. Worsening of the Mental Health Condition and Related Symptoms
If a patient’s mental health condition isn’t accurately diagnosed and treated, the condition and associated symptoms may worsen and impact all areas of the person’s life. This can lead to problems with work, relationships, and daily functioning. It may also lessen the patient’s chances of recovery.
2. Loss of Employment
When properly treated, people can often manage their mental health conditions and thrive. Left untreated, however, these conditions may lead to issues with their ability to work, potentially resulting in job loss. Without adequate employment, patients may even face homelessness.
3. Loss of Relationships
Similarly, many can have high-functioning and healthy relationships when mental health conditions are controlled with medication or treatment. When undiagnosed or untreated, these conditions may take a serious toll on important relationships, even resulting in the loss of these close connections. This isolation may, in turn, contribute to worsening mental health.
4. Deteriorating Physical Health
When daily functioning is impacted, those with undiagnosed mental health disorders may not care for their physical health or take medications as prescribed. This can lead to serious problems with their physical health and put them at risk for serious physical ailments.
5. Incorrect Medication or Treatment
There are many different medications for mental health conditions, but patients must receive the right medications and treatment for their specific disorders. Prescriptions for mental health can target specific areas of the brain, and the consequences of incorrect medication could be extremely harmful or lead to unnecessary side effects that worsen the patient’s mental health.
6. Increased Likelihood of Substance Abuse
Patients with undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions may turn to alcohol or illegal substances to cope with their symptoms. This can lead to addiction or worsening of the mental health disorder.
7. Suicide Risk
Tragically, suicide can sometimes be a consequence of an undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental health condition if the patient does not receive the support they need. According to the World Health Organization, over 760,000 people die by suicide each year, and the link between suicide and mental health disorders is well documented. Those who have a mental health issue that is not treated may be at a significantly greater risk for suicide attempts.
The consequences of a failure to diagnose a mental health condition can be harmful and even tragic. Our caring Albuquerque medical malpractice attorney can help you fight for justice.
Keller & Keller’s Albuquerque Medical Malpractice Attorney Will Fight for You
If you or someone close to you has been impacted by a failure to diagnose a mental condition, We’ll carefully evaluate your situation and explain your options. We’ll assist with gathering evidence and working with mental health professionals to establish negligence. Finally, we’ll negotiate with providers or file a lawsuit and represent you or a family member in court if needed to prove malpractice.
With decades of experience in New Mexico medical malpractice law, we are committed to walking with you through this process with the care and compassion you deserve. Turn to our award-winning Albuquerque medical malpractice legal team to support you and guide you.
