Missed Appendicitis Diagnosis Claim *

Abdominal pain is a common cause of complaint for people who visit the doctor, at times where a doctor misdiagnosis appendicitis for another ailment, the patients conditions may worsen and as a result, an appendicitis misdiagnosis claim * may arise.

The appendix is attached to the caecum which is located below the large intestine. It is a pouch-like structure and is the number one cause of stomach pain requiring surgery among young people aged between the years of 8-24. When the appendix becomes inflamed, the condition is then referred to as appendicitis.

There are a set of clear symptoms which indicate a person may be suffering from appendicitis. When these symptoms arise swift removal of the appendix is commonly recommended as any delay can lead to complications such as the appendix bursting.=

Clinical negligence * may be a cause of further injury or illness where a medical practitioner failed to advise surgical treatment despite the symptoms being evident.

Why is there a misdiagnosis?

For a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis, it may be necessary for more than one of the recognised symptoms to be identifiable. This might not be the case which creates an element of confusion for the medical practitioner who can then diagnose an inaccurate illness such as a bladder or urine infections, gastroenteritis or severe irritable syndrome.

Common appendix symptoms

Appendicitis usually begins with an infrequent pain happening in the middle abdomen. The appendix swells in size which causes a blockage. The pain gradually transports down the body towards the lower right hand side, where is becomes constant and severe. The doctor or medical practitioner has a duty of care to carry out an in-depth assessment if the patient is suffering from abdominal pain. Such an assessment would include samples of blood, urine and imaging tests. Other common symptoms that indicate that a patient may be experiencing appendicitis include:

• Vomiting
• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite

If a doctor fails to diagnose a patient suffering from appendicitis it can have repercussions on that persons’ state of health. When an inflamed appendix goes untreated it can burst which leads to infections such as peritonitis or an abscess.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CASE

With over 30 years’ experience as a specialist medical negligence solicitors *, Tracey Solicitors, ensure not to overwhelm you with legal jargon along with providing you with legal advice and guidance with your best interest at heart, in a language that you can understand. For a confidential discussion, call our medical negligence team on 01 649 9900 or email ask@traceysolicitors.ie and tell us about your case.