Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Pediatricians try to ensure child safety.  But a new study states pediatricians admittedly misdiagnose a child once or twice a month.

Common mistaken diagnoses include the following, some of which include medication side effects:

• Whether a child has a viral illness or a bacterial infection
• Ear infections
• Psychiatric disorders
• Appendicitis
• Asthma

 Researchers surveyed more than 700 pediatricians and trainees in gathering their data.  A total of 77% of pediatrician trainees were found to have at least one or two wrong diagnosis during the course of a month.  Almost half of the participants in the study claimed that once or twice a year their mistakes were significant enough to cause a child harm.  Previous research shows the 32% of pediatric medical malpractice claims are due to diagnostic error. 

Medical mistakes such as these can lead to tragedy.  In Minnesota, a jury awarded more than $1.25 million dollars to a family whose toddler died after not being diagnosed with an infected appendix.  Instead the 21-month-old was diagnosed with gastroenteritis.  The family claimed that the boy was misdiagnosed on two separate occasions over the course of four days, including the day prior to his death.  Unfortunately the doctor did not order an ultrasound or CT scan of the child’s abdomen, even after the child cried loudest during that part of the examination.  Evidence was presented at the trial showing the pediatrician scheduled appointments in 10-minute increments.  The family claimed that was proof that he did not allow enough time for each patient.    

 So what are the answers?  In the study, pediatricians generally cited blame in not gathering information through patient medical history reports, as well as examinations and chart reviews.  Parents were also at fault.  A lax attitude in keeping up to date appointments, as well as following along with needed lab work and recommendations led to misdiagnoses too.  The research will be published in the July issue of Pediatrics.

 Physicians in the study admit there are remedies to the errors.  More follow-up with patients, increasing the amount of time spent with patients, as well as a commitment towards implementing better systems, processes and communication among health-care team members would go a long way in improving patient care.

Child Injury Lawyer in Clearwater Florida, working to make safety every child’s reality.