Americans Face High Rate of Misdiagnosis Cases

A new study issued by the Institute of Medicine on September 22 showed that most United States citizens will receive at least one wrong or delayed medical diagnosis in their lives, a reality that can often bring about harmful consequences to patients. The report estimated that around 5% of adults who seek outpatient care each year are misdiagnosed. The alarming statistics revealed in the study stress the need for across-the-board changes in the health care industry.

According to IOM committee chairman Dr. John Ball of the American College of Physicians, health care providers such as laboratory workers, doctors, and nurses should seriously consider the significance of patients’ complaints, provide them with the copies of their test results immediately, and present every possible explanation of their symptoms.

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