New York fans of Robin Williams may have heard that after the actor’s death, an autopsy revealed that he suffered from a condition called Lewy Body Dementia. It is caused by a buildup of protein deposits in the brain, but due to the nonspecific nature of its symptoms, it is often misdiagnosed. This was the case with Williams, who was misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three months before his death.
New York fans of Robin Williams may have heard that after the actor’s death, an autopsy revealed that he suffered from a condition called Lewy Body Dementia. It is caused by a buildup of protein deposits in the brain, but due to the nonspecific nature of its symptoms, it is often misdiagnosed. This was the case with Williams, who was misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three months before his death.
Symptoms include memory problems, unsteady walking, delusions, visual hallucinations, depression and slowed movements. It is estimated that 1.4 million people may have Lewy’s Body Dementia and be undiagnosed. Suicide is a risk for undiagnosed patients, as was the case with Williams.
Williams had scheduled neurological testing shortly before his death. According to his wife, the 63-year-old actor was deteriorating rapidly and probably would not have lived more than three years at the most. Doctors say suicide ideation often accompanies the disease, and the risk is greater earlier on when patients are more mobile. It is difficult to develop a standardized diagnosis due to the variety of symptoms and their similarity to other diseases, and patients often go 18 months before they are properly diagnosed.
A wrong or missed diagnosis can affect a patient’s treatment options and their prognosis. It can also result in the delayed treatment of a condition that, had it been properly diagnosed at the outset, perhaps could have been less damaging. Patients who find themselves in this position may want to discuss their situation with a medical malpractice attorney who, after reviewing the patient’s medical records and consulting with medical experts, may be able to determine that the health care facility or practitioner failed to exhibit the requisite standard of care.
