Telemedicine is something that has been around for a long time, but it hasn’t always been widely used. Lately, however, with the rise of coronavirus cases and restrictions placed on who can be where, there is more and more use of telemedicine between patients and doctors to meet virtually.
While this is necessary and a requirement in many places, the use of virtual tactics for telemedicine can pose various questions. How accurate is it? Can a doctor diagnose you accurately when they are not taking every step to test you? Does this lead to misdiagnosis?
Incomplete or Incorrect Diagnosis
Despite not being as popular in years past, there was a study performed between July 2013 and September 2014 to determine the effectiveness of telehealth meetings. At the time of the study, it was determined that about one in every four telemedicine visits resulted in incorrect or incomplete diagnoses.
Of course, there are errors that occur from in-person meetings as well, but as more and more patients rely on telemedicine, it poses concerns regarding monitoring of these meetings. After all, can a doctor thoroughly provide an accurate diagnosis when multiple conditions have the same symptoms and the doctor cannot perform necessary tests on you?
What It Means for You
In any situation where you rely on telemedicine for a condition you may be experience, it’s vital to document the entire encounter. The more information you have regarding your doctor’s attention to your concerns, their ability to address your symptoms, and any kind of misdiagnosis they make, the more you can show negligence and hold the negligent party liable.
At Berthold Law Firm, PLLC, we’re committed to helping you protect your rights as a patient. Trust that we’re willing to go above and beyond to provide you with the strong representation you need to get justice and compensation. Our Charleston medical malpractice lawyers are here for you.
Call us at (304) 605-2040 today.