Michigan Medical Lab Testing Malpractice Attorney
Last updated on January 8, 2025
Medical testing plays a valuable role in helping doctors make crucial decisions about their patients. The information that X-rays, MRIs, CT scans and other types of medical tests provide serves as the basis for reaching a diagnosis and deciding how to approach treatment. So when mistakes are made in conducting or reading lab tests, it can be the beginning of a life-threatening chain of events.
Our lead attorney Scott Goodwin of Scott Goodwin Law P.C. has spent more than 35 years representing victims of personal injury, including patients harmed by medical malpractice. He combines his award-winning skill of bringing maximum compensation to clients for their catastrophic injuries with the one-on-one service that is only possible at a boutique law firm.
How Medical Testing Goes Wrong
Approximately 13 billion medical lab tests are performed in the United States every year, and with so many tests being run, it’s only a matter of time before mistakes are made. Not only might there be mistakes in reading the results of a test, but mistakes can also be made during the testing process that compromise the results. A labeling error can lead to a medical sample being handled incorrectly, yielding an inaccurate result. In some cases, a doctor might be given test results for the wrong patient. One 2013 study found that 75% of all medical lab errors involved mistakes that were made before the test was conducted.
Common negligent testing mistakes include:
- Mislabeling a sample
- Errors while administering the test
- Problems with the equipment used during testing
- Failure to preserve samples according to established best practices
How Lab Errors Lead To Diagnostic Errors
When medical test results are read incorrectly, it can result in a wide range of problems for patients. A misdiagnosis can lead to a patient receiving improper treatment while treatment for the real issue is delayed. Because of that delay, a person’s condition could worsen and become more difficult to treat. In a truly catastrophic case, a mistake with a lab test could result in unnecessary surgery and other invasive treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. Other consequences include:
- The patient’s actual condition progresses and requires more intensive treatment once it is finally diagnosed correctly
- The patient dies because their condition is not properly diagnosed in time
- Permanent or long-term disability
- Chronic and severe pain
- Side effects from incorrect medication
Unacceptable Radiology Errors
Technology that creates images of the inside of your body revolutionized medicine and has no doubt saved millions of lives. Unfortunately, human error can negate the power of X-rays, CAT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds to diagnose serious conditions like cancer and fetal distress. Failure to properly calibrate a machine or keep it in proper working order can skew the results and result in either a false negative or false positive misdiagnosis. So can careless reading of the test results by the technician or doctor. Misdiagnosis can force the patient to undergo unnecessary and grueling treatments that do not address their actual condition. Meanwhile, the condition that was not accurately diagnosed continues to grow worse, threatening the patient’s life.
Lab Errors Affecting Your Health? Call Scott Goodwin Law P.C.
No medical test is completely infallible. Even a mistake involving a simple, routine screening can potentially have very serious consequences for a patient. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medical testing error, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a medical malpractice lawyer. Malpractice cases can be very complex, and it’s very important to have someone on your side who understands the law and has the experience to fight for you to get the compensation you need. Contact us online today or call us at 1-888-GOODWIN for help with your case.