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Can You Sue for a Misdiagnosis Caused by Lab Negligence?

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When Lab Errors Lead to Life-Changing Consequences

Laboratories play a crucial role in modern healthcare. Doctors rely on lab results to diagnose illnesses, determine treatment plans, and make fast decisions during emergencies. When those results are wrong — whether due to human error, contaminated samples, or faulty equipment — patients can suffer devastating harm.

A misdiagnosis caused by lab negligence can delay lifesaving treatment, lead to incorrect medications, or allow a serious disease to progress unchecked. In Ohio, patients have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim when a preventable lab mistake directly causes injury.

What Counts as Lab Negligence?

Lab negligence occurs when a laboratory or its staff fails to meet the accepted standard of care for collecting, handling, analyzing, or reporting medical tests. Common examples include:

  • Mislabeling samples, causing results to be assigned to the wrong patient
  • Contaminated specimens leading to false results
  • Incorrect test interpretation
  • Failure to run the full test panel ordered by the physician
  • Delays in processing that allow conditions to worsen
  • Unreadable or flawed imaging studies
  • Faulty equipment or improper calibration
  • Clerical errors in reporting results

Even a small oversight in a lab can create a domino effect of medical errors, leaving patients with worsening symptoms and no answers.

How Misdiagnosis Happens Because of Lab Errors

A misdiagnosis doesn’t always stem from a doctor’s failure — the problem may start in the lab. Examples include:

  • A false negative cancer test, causing a tumor to grow undetected
  • A false positive result, leading to unnecessary medications or treatments
  • A misread pathology sample, causing doctors to treat the wrong condition
  • Delayed test results, leaving patients untreated during critical hours or days
  • Incorrect bloodwork, causing improper medication dosing

When doctors act on faulty lab results, patients pay the price — and often the consequences are irreversible.

To file a malpractice lawsuit for lab negligence, you must show:

  • The lab owed you a duty of care
  • That duty was breached, such as through an error or protocol failure
  • The breach caused a misdiagnosis or delay
  • You suffered harm, such as progression of disease, additional treatment, disability, or emotional and financial losses

An attorney will review your medical records, lab documentation, and expert reports to determine exactly where the breakdown occurred.

Compensation Available in Lab Negligence Cases

Victims of lab-caused misdiagnosis may seek compensation for:

  • Additional medical expenses
  • Lost income or diminished earning ability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Cost of future care or rehabilitation
  • Wrongful death damages in fatal cases

The financial and emotional impact of a lab mistake can last a lifetime — your legal rights shouldn’t be overlooked.

Contact Buckeye Law Group Today

If you believe a lab mistake contributed to a misdiagnosis or delayed treatment, you deserve answers. Contact Buckeye Law Group today: https://www.buckeyeaccidentattorneys.com/#ContactUs
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