Misdiagnosed Concussions Caused By New York Medical Malpractice

A concussion is a brain injury that results in a loss of consciousness and a bruised brain. Concussions can result from a blow to the head or violent shaking of the head or upper body. Sports injuries can result in many undiagnosed concussions. If improperly diagnosed, and therefore left untreated, a concussion can leave a person with permanent damage to the brain.

Doctors may misdiagnose a concussion by assuming that it is not as severe as it really is or missing the evidence of a concussion completely. Four key symptoms that doctors look for when they are diagnosing a concussion are:

• Cognitive Problems – such as memory issues and difficulty concentrating
• Physical Discomfort – such as nausea, headache, and sensitivity to light or noise
• Sleep Disruption – such as sleeping less or more than usual
• Emotional Changes – such as depression, anxiety, or irritability

All the above symptoms are common. If none of them appear especially severe a doctor may not determine that the injury resulted to a concussion. However, a doctor should run tests to confirm whether a concussion occurred. If one did, they should then begin immediate treatment to limit the damage caused.

One of the most common venues where concussion injuries occur is sporting events, including high school sporting events. However, should an athlete not lose consciousness after a collision, then a coach or medial staff may fail diagnose a concussion. Players may return to the field while they are suffering the effects of a concussion. These players who have suffered one concussion are likely to suffer another in the same season.

If you believe your child has been allowed to return to the field after suffering a concussion due to the failure of a medical professional to correctly diagnose your child, you and your child could be entitled to compensation for the resulting complications.