Parkinson's Disease - Miami Misdiagnosis Lawyer: Sean M. Cleary

Common Misdiagnoses and Risks in Parkinson’s Disease Cases

The misdiagnosis of Parkinson's disease is alarmingly common. Approximately one in four people with Parkinson's were initially diagnosed with a completely different condition, such as stroke, anxiety, essential tremor, or another neurological disorder. The health of more than a third of misdiagnosed patients can be further deteriorated by receiving medications or medical procedures for conditions they don't actually have.

There is no definitive test for Parkinson's disease, and its symptoms often overlap with other neurological disorders, making it hard to diagnose. Parkinson's disease is diagnosed based on a clinical evaluation, patient history, physical examination, and medication response. Patients suffer needlessly when physicians fail to differentiate Parkinson's from similar conditions.

Why Parkinson's Disease Is Frequently Misdiagnosed

High misdiagnosis rates are associated with Parkinson's disease due to its diagnostic challenges. The early symptoms are often mild, nonspecific, and can easily be attributed to normal aging, arthritis, stress, or anxiety. Misdiagnoses become even more frequent during early disease presentation when symptoms are most ambiguous. It is more common for women to be misdiagnosed than men, and those aged 51 to 60 are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

Medical Negligence in Parkinson's Diagnosis Cases We Handle

Our law firm represents patients whose Parkinson's disease was misdiagnosed and mistreated by doctors. We have over 25 years of legal experience and are capable of holding negligent medical providers accountable. We represent individuals facing similar situations of medical negligence:

• Failure to Recognize Classic Parkinson's Symptoms: When physicians dismiss or overlook characteristic signs such as resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, patients may go months or years without proper diagnosis.
• Attributing Symptoms to Aging or Anxiety: Rather than being diagnosed correctly, Parkinson's disease is often misdiagnosed as normal aging, stress, or anxiety.
• Failure to Refer to Specialists: Patients with Parkinson's symptoms should be referred to neurologists or movement disorder specialists for expert evaluation.
• Inadequate Differential Diagnosis: Once other conditions have been ruled out, doctors should consider Parkinson's disease when symptoms align.
• Failing to Order Appropriate Testing: The diagnosis of Parkinson's cannot be confirmed with a single test, but certain imaging studies and clinical assessments can be used to support it and rule out other possibilities.

Conditions Frequently Confused with Parkinson's Disease

Physicians are responsible for determining whether Parkinson's disease differs from other neurological conditions during comprehensive evaluations. Parkinson's disease is often mistaken for the following diseases:

• Essential Tremor
• Drug-Induced Parkinsonism
• Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
• Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
• Lewy Body Dementia
• Vascular Parkinsonism
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Stroke
• Anxiety Disorders

Devastating Consequences of Parkinson's Misdiagnosis

An incorrect or delayed Parkinson's diagnosis can have far-reaching consequences. Parkinson's disease can be managed, maintained, and perhaps even slowed if early intervention is employed. In the case of a misdiagnosis, patients lose valuable time during which irreversible neurological damage can occur. Getting the wrong diagnosis can cause more harm than good. This can lead to:

• Unnecessary medications or surgeries
• Incorrect treatments that trigger harmful side effects
• Delayed use of Parkinson’s medications that may slow progression
• Worsening motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and poor balance
• Increased risk of falls from untreated balance problems
• Lost opportunity for early, more effective intervention
• Emotional strain from unexplained or worsening symptoms
• Higher medical costs from ineffective or prolonged treatments

Recovering Compensation for Parkinson's Misdiagnosis

If Parkinson's disease is misdiagnosed as a result of medical negligence, compensation may be available to you. The amount recoverable depends on how severely the diagnostic error affected your health and life. Our firm conducts comprehensive assessments of your losses to guarantee nothing is overlooked in your claim. We are dedicated to securing the highest possible compensation for:

• All medical expenses, both past and future, related to Parkinson's treatment
• Costs of incorrect treatments and procedures you received due to misdiagnosis
• Expenses for medications, therapy, and assistive devices
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering resulting from untreated disease progression
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life and inability to participate in activities
• Home modifications and care assistance costs
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses