Can a missed diagnosis be considered medical malpractice?

Even though experienced and skilled doctors can make diagnostic errors, misdiagnosis alone doesn't automatically constitute a medical malpractice case.

For a malpractice claim to be valid, the misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose must result in inadequate medical care, possibly delayed treatment, or lack of treatment.

It's a requirement in a valid malpractice case that these omissions should deteriorate a patient's overall condition.

Misdiagnosis cases can have various scenarios, including:

• wrong diagnosis
• missed diagnosis
• delayed diagnosis

A doctor may accurately diagnose one condition in some instances but misdiagnose another, overlook the need for a second diagnosis, or fail to recognize complications that alter or exacerbate an existing condition.