Failure to Diagnose Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

By Jason Matzus | Founder, Matzus Law, LLC

When you walk into a hospital or a doctor’s office, you place your trust—your life, in many cases—in the hands of medical professionals. You expect skill, diligence, and above all, answers. But when a serious medical condition goes undiagnosed, the consequences can be devastating. At Matzus Law, LLC, we represent patients and families across Pennsylvania who have suffered due to a medical provider’s failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis.

Whether it’s a missed cancer diagnosis, a stroke mistaken for a migraine, or abnormal test results that no one followed up on, failure to diagnose is among the most common—and most harmful—forms of medical negligence. I’ve spent my career holding healthcare providers accountable when those failures cause unnecessary suffering, long-term harm, or wrongful death.

Failure to diagnose cases often involve conditions where time is everything:

• Cancer (including prostate and breast cancer)
  
• Heart attack
• Stroke
  
• Pulmonary embolism
• Spinal infections
  
• Meningitis in children
  
• Brain injuries
• Sepsis
  

When medical providers ignore red flags, misread test results, or dismiss symptoms that any reasonably careful doctor should have investigated further, the law allows you to pursue justice. Our role is to help you do exactly that—with the skill, compassion, and tenacity your case deserves.

How Do These Cases Happen?

Every physician, whether working in a chaotic ER or a quiet primary care practice, has a duty to provide care that meets a reasonable standard. But time and again, we see common breakdowns that lead to tragedy:

• Test results misinterpreted or ignored
• Abnormal findings not communicated or followed up
• Dismissal of symptoms as “minor” when they weren’t
• Failure to refer to specialists in a timely way

If another doctor in the same situation would have made the diagnosis, but your doctor didn’t—and harm resulted—that is grounds for a medical malpractice claim in Pennsylvania.

Our Approach at Matzus Law

We start with a detailed root cause analysis. We work with top-tier medical experts who understand how these cases unfold and what should have happened. Then, we connect the dots between that missed diagnosis and the harm that followed.

We’re here to answer your questions, explain your options, and help you move forward—whatever that looks like for you.

Types of Failure to Diagnose Cases We Handle

Our Pittsburgh-based firm is experienced in litigating all types of failure to diagnose cases, including:

• Failure to Diagnose Cancer
  
• Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack
  
• Failure to Diagnose Stroke
  
• Failure to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism
  
• Failure to Diagnose Brain Injury
  
• Failure to Diagnose Spinal Infection
  
• Failure to Diagnose Meningitis
  
• Failure to Diagnose Paralysis
  
• Failure to Diagnose Prostate Cancer
  

Can You Prevent a Missed Diagnosis?

Unfortunately, many of our clients did everything right—and the system still failed them. But there are steps patients can take to reduce the risk of diagnostic errors:

• Get a second opinion – If something feels off, don’t hesitate to ask another doctor.
• Ask questions – A good doctor welcomes questions and explains things clearly.
• Keep your primary care doctor in the loop – Coordinated care can prevent dangerous oversights.

That said, if you’re reading this, it may already be too late to prevent the harm. But it’s not too late to demand accountability.

I couldn’t be happier with the service I received from Jason Matzus and his associates! The first time I contacted him about my case, I had also reached out to a variety of other law firms. I chose Matzus Law Firm because Jason himself called me back and not just a secretary screening calls. He was also attentive to my situation and willing to pursue it. That decision has been the very best decision especially considering the empathy and personal support I received and the positive outcome.Jason explained the process very well from the beginning and when questions or issues came up, he was quick to answer me personally.I’m entirely satisfied with my experience and I would highly recommend his services, along with his associates. If I could give him 10 stars I would!!

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M. G.

FAQ: Failure to Diagnose, Delayed Diagnosis & Misdiagnosis in Pennsylvania

How does misdiagnosis malpractice happen?

Misdiagnosis occurs when a patient is told they have the wrong condition—or told there’s nothing wrong at all—when a serious illness is present. Research shows nearly 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed each year in outpatient settings. About 6 million of those patients suffer serious harm.

Conditions frequently misdiagnosed include:

• Cancer
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Necrotizing fasciitis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Spinal epidural abscess
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage

What should I do if I’ve been misdiagnosed and harmed?

Get medical care immediately. Then, speak with a qualified medical malpractice attorney. At Matzus Law, we’ll review the facts of your case, consult experts, and determine if the harm was caused by a preventable diagnostic error. If it was, we’ll help you hold the responsible parties accountable.