I’m hoping someone with some medical legal expertise will see this, not just guesses as I can do those myself. LOL The story.
I had almost classic symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis and was sent to a neurologist. This guy did not order the standard tests which should have been done anyway to at least rule out that and other conditions. Such as an MRI, lumbar puncture, blood tests, etc. Instead he did just one, the EMG/NCV. Which is the place to start but certainly not to stop. He misread the test and said my nerves were damaged in my feet which is peripheral neuropathy. They are not but that is one symptom. He failed to continue on to find the cause of this.
I finally decided to get another opinion and the second neurologist redid the EMG/NCV (which was read correctly) but also ordered MRIs, lumbar puncture, blood tests, and numerous consultations with other specialists. The diagnosis is Multiple Sclerosis.
This is a progressive condition and it is critical to start treatment as soon as possible for the highest success rate. I feel that my treatment has been delayed because of the misdiagnosis and basically that nothing more was done by the first doctor.
This is not about money! I really don’t care. But his office was jam packed with people due to the fact that he is the only neurologist in this rural area. I had to drive an hour one way to find the second one. I shudder to think of how many people are not being helped when they could be. And I’m angry that he may have made my condition worse by his negligence.
Is this a case? Is it worth pursuing or this hard to prove?
Because MS IS hard to diagnose, that may be right, but I had classic symptoms and a lot of them. Almost every single one. I, as a layperson, could see that the potential was huge which was why I switched doctors. If I was able to see this, shouldn’t a specialist have pursued it? I even asked about it and was dismissed.
Having a doctor who isn’t qualified isn’t good, whether they’re the one one or not.