You start to feel sick. Fearing that it’s serious, you go to the doctor. They look at you for a few minutes, tell you that you appear to be fine, and send you home. Maybe they recommend that you get some rest or drink more fluids, but they don’t seem to think it’s anything serious.
You, however, can’t shake the feeling that there is a real health concern here. Are you just being too anxious about your health or is your doctor wrong in saying that you’re completely healthy?
It is important to note that health anxiety is a real issue that a lot of people face. One way that it manifests is by making you think that things are always the worst-case scenario. For instance, you may be convinced that your sore throat is a sign of throat cancer. Your doctor may tell you that it’s cold and flu season, so you’re just sick and you’re going to be fine after a few days.
That said, there are plenty of cases where doctors do make mistakes. Many symptoms of serious diseases are essentially the same as symptoms for minor medical issues. What if your doctor tells you to buy some over-the-counter cold medicine when you really do have cancer? Every day that you put off treatment, the disease progresses that much more. This can have a huge impact on your long-term health.
If your doctor makes an error, you could get the wrong treatment or have your treatment delayed. You need to know what legal options you have to seek financial compensation.