Missed diagnosis=malpractice?

[xcreg1313x]

What is the name of your state? Georgia

Is a missed diagnosis along the lines of malpractice?

About a year ago i became ill and saw a local physician. I had a sore throat, cough and moderate fever (about 102). The doc ran some strep tests which came back negative and perscribed me some pain meds and a throat gargle. I just figured it was a virus or something and that it would pass in a few days.
As the days passed it got much worse. I developed some bad chest congestion. About five days after i saw the doctor we decided to go to the ER. They took a chest x-ray, gave me some more pain meds, and released me. The next day I could barely breathe so I returned to the ER. I ended up staying in the hospital for the next 24 days with bilateral pnuemonia and empyema. They drained almost a liter of fluid from my lungs. I somewhat understand the doctor missing it as I didn't feel like it was serious at the time, but how could the hospital miss that the day before??? A liter of fluid doesn't appear that quickly does it??? To this day my lungs still aren't the same and I don't think they ever will be. My insurance covered most of my 200k bill but I still ended up paying a few thousand out of pocket.

I would truly appreciate any input.

Thank You
C.M.

 

[ecmst12]

A liter of fluid doesn't appear that quickly does it???

Sure it can. You may not have actually HAD pneumonia the day before.

 

[xcreg1313x]

I find it very hard to believe that in the period of 24 hours you can go from having no symptoms which would even make the doctor a bit more cautious to accumulating that much fluid and being stuck in the IR for 3 weeks. I came to the ER for a reason, something was really wrong with me even at that time.

 

[ecmst12]

This type of illness CAN progress quickly. Ask your regular doctor to review your chest X-ray from the ER. If it was clear, then your symptoms really did progress that fast.

 

[xcreg1313x]

Alright I'll have to look into that then. Thanks

 

[cbg]

I am not a medical professional of any kind so take it for what it's worth.

I had what I thought was a bad cold, so I waited to go to the doctor since you don't go to a doctor for colds (at least I don't). The doctor said to me, and these are her exact words, "You don't have pneumonia, but if you'd waited another 48 hours to come in you would."

Maybe you were 24 hours ahead of me?

 

[xcreg1313x]

Ok I've made arrangements to have my new Doc take a look at the x-rays. Assuming there is some evidence of an infection, is the hospital negligent in sending me home without so much as an antibiotic?

 

[moburkes]

Ok I've made arrangements to have my new Doc take a look at the x-rays. Assuming there is some evidence of an infection, is the hospital negligent in sending me home without so much as an antibiotic?

We're not gonna assume. We're, instead, gonna wait until you come back and tell us what was found. We don't do what ifs.

 

[ecmst12]

The x-ray won't indicate infection. It might show fluid, but other tests are done to check for infection. You probably didn't have an infection at that point, you probably had a viral chest cold which progressed to bacterial pneumonia over that 24 hour period. And yes, that is absolutely possible. It could have happened just because your immune system was weakened from the cold and left you more vulnerable to infection.

Let me ask you this: Do you smoke?

 

[Just Blue]

The x-ray won't indicate infection. It might show fluid, but other tests are done to check for infection. You probably didn't have an infection at that point, you probably had a viral chest cold which progressed to bacterial pneumonia over that 24 hour period. And yes, that is absolutely possible. It could have happened just because your immune system was weakened from the cold and left you more vulnerable to infection.

Let me ask you this: Do you smoke?

I will attest to the truth of this post...My daughter had a cough...Went to the Doctor...was placed on med due to her Hx. 24 hours later she was in the ER with a WCC of 44k....It happened FAST!!
Her Pedi did nothing wrong...no med mal...Just one of those things...

 

[xcreg1313x]

Thanks for the input guys especially ecmst. The hospital was very vague about what caused the episode and how it progressed. I've had to do a lot of research on my own and I've got no medical background. Yes I did smoke in the past and thought that may have contributed to it, but I didn't think it could outright cause it. And moburkes... lighten up its a hypothetical question on an internet message board. If you don't want to answer it then don't respond.

 

[ecmst12]

Did you smoke WHILE you were ill? Because that could DEFINITELY cause an infection. If not, your past history might have just contributed to your weakened immune system. It could also have caused your lungs to be less able to heal from the experience, causing the lingering symptoms you are still having.

Unless you want to live in a bubble, you're going to be exposed to bacteria and sometimes you're going to get sick. Some bacteria is very aggressive and can make you really sick, really fast. That's life.

 

[xcreg1313x]

No, I didn't smoke while I was sick. The sore throat made sure of that. It is understandable how that could have contribute to the lingering issues. I really appreciate your input. Its been hard to find answers regarding much of this. Thanks.

 

[lealea1005]

Even though you may not have smoked while you were sick. Your previous history of smoking (how many years you smoked, how many packs a day you smoked during that time, and when the last time you smoked) is a contributing factor. As for the antibiotic...if you had a negative strep test and the examining Physician diagnosed you with a virus, it would have been inappropriate to prescribe an antibiotic as they do not treat viruses.

 

[longsally111]

really now

I love when people come into the ER and state that while they are smokers for years, they think that stopping for a few days will have a major impact. I am always in awe.