Can Dementia Misdiagnosis In New York Be Classified As Medical Malpractice?

Dementia is a health condition or syndrome that is progressive and chronic in nature. It can be caused by a variety of illnesses that can affect the patient's memory, behavior, thinking, and ability to perform day to day activities.

Dementia can be overwhelming for not just those who suffer from it, but also for their families and caregivers. According to WHO, there are close to 47 million people across the world living with dementia and this is projected to reach about 75 million by the year 2030 and triple by the year 2050.

Dementia Misdiagnosis in New York

Diagnosis of dementia is often delayed or missed as the early symptoms develop and manifest themselves gradually. These symptoms are usually associated with the normal process of aging. Also, signs of dementia mimic symptoms of other disorders and diseases such as psychosis, depression, stroke, TIA, and also delirium, which can either accompany dementia or could be an underlying symptom of a condition that is not related to dementia.

In many cases, the worst case scenario is assumed when the first signs and symptoms of dementia begin to be seen. Doctors of patients who have episodes of dementia, often are under the impression that the patient has Alzheimer's disease. Though many patients with dementia do suffer from Alzheimer's too, this is not universally true. Several patients also suffer from other conditions that can be treated if a proper diagnosis is done.

One such cause of dementia misdiagnosis in New York, that is not Alzheimer's disease, is NHP which stands for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. This often goes undiagnosed, and thus remains untreated, in 90% of the cases.

When this condition is diagnosed correctly, the patient undergoes a procedure wherein a shunt is put in to drain excess fluid from the brain to the stomach. These patients once treated, experience immediate relief from symptoms that plague them and are able to continue leading a normal life instead of suffering from bladder control issues, dementia and other such symptoms.

How Medication Side Effects Can Lead to Dementia Misdiagnosis in New York

A number of drug interactions as well as side effects tend to exhibit the same symptoms as that of age related cognitive disorders. For example, drugs that adversely affect mobility and cognition such as pills taken to alleviate anxiety, can create a façade of dementia in patients who do not suffer from it. This is called pseudo-dementia.

Drugs such as Valium and Xanax that are commonly prescribed to the elderly can have side effects that are indistinguishable from dementia, including:

• Short-term memory loss
• Hallucinations
• Dis-inhibition

There are several other such drugs that can induce pseudodementia, such as cholesterol lowering statin medication like Lipitor, which finds its way in the drug chart of most seniors. Antihistamines, corticosteroids, antibiotics, antiemetics, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and also opioid pain killers can mimic the symptoms of dementia.

A Law Firm that Cares

If an elderly in your family wasn't diagnosed in time for dementia or other health conditions, then your loved one, your family and you have likely suffered. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000 to discuss the failure to diagnose and to learn more about your legal rights and compensation that you can file for.

No one gets it done like RMFW Law. Our sterling track record speaks for itself. We have won millions of dollars for past clients and you too can be on this amazing list. You need to call us up though, we cannot do that for you. If we have to, we will come and see you and hear what you have to say.

We know how to win cases in a variety of manners. Do not speak to the hospital staff rudely, it is not their fault this happened. The person who is at fault is nowhere near you now, the hospital is going to try to shield itself. Call us today so we can try to find a medical expert to support your claim!