An associated disease is one that occurs together with another disease, but not necessarily because of a causal relationship with each other.
For example, diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol often are found together in patients who have heart disease.
All of these diseases need to be addressed and treated accordingly so that the patient can live as healthy a life as possible.
If some types of associated diseases are not properly diagnosed, serious complications and even death could result.
If an associated disease is not diagnosed, or is not diagnosed in a timely manner, a type of medical malpractice has occurred and the patient may be able to file a lawsuit in order to hold the negligent party or parties accountable for any damage.
If you or someone you know has been harmed because of an associated disease not being properly diagnosed, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses.
You should consult with a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical negligence and malpractice promptly so that your legal rights are protected fully.
There are many reasons why diseases can occur simultaneously with other diseases.
Some of the most common reasons are as follows: an underlying condition or disease causes the associated diseases, one disease increases the risk for an associated disease, or one disease is a complication or side effect of another disease.
Diseases which are autoimmune related, such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, lupus, and Type I diabetes to name a few, are often considered to be associated disease, meaning they are categorized as frequently occurring together.
The same thing can be said for heart disease.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity also often occur with one another.
Associated diseases, such as those mentioned above require the need for prompt medical care and treatment.
That being said, it is not entirely uncommon for doctors and other medical staff to overlook things or make mistakes.
One of the most common mistakes regarding associated diseases is the failure to provide a diagnosis.
Failing to diagnose an associated disease could lead to serious complications such as organ damage, heart damage, or even death.
Medical negligence and malpractice are leading causes of injuries and deaths throughout the United States.
As terrible as this is, the law does work to protect victims by allowing medical malpractice lawsuits to be filed in order to hold those who are responsible accountable for the damages.
If you or someone you know has been harmed because of a doctor or other medical professional's negligence in diagnosing an associated disease, it is important to understand that you do have legal rights and you may be able to seek monetary compensation by filing a malpractice lawsuit.
The best course of action you can take is to consult with a qualified personal injury attorney who specializes in malpractice and negligence claims.
A personal injury attorney has the skills necessary to seek damages to cover past, present, and future medical expenses, a loss of income or wages, a loss of earning capacity, emotional harm, pain and suffering, and more.
These types of cases can be very complex and often center on many small details.
Missing one of these details, or a filing deadline or statute of limitations can completely ruin your chances of a favorable outcome.
For the most part, personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that you do not have to pay anything upfront, and often have to pay nothing until the time your case settles.
This can be quite a comfort during a time that is already difficult and stressful.
Medical personnel take an oath to do no harm and to provide a particular duty of care to their patients.
When this duty is breached and harm is done, action needs to be taken to hold the responsible party or parties accountable for the injuries sustained.
The best way to go about doing this is to file a lawsuit.
In the event that you have lost a loved one because of negligence on the part of a medical professional who failed to diagnose an associated disease, you should know that you can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the decedent.
Damages can be awarded for medical bills that were incurred in treating the patient before he or she died, a loss of earning potential, a loss of companionship, for funeral expenses, and in some cases even for punitive damages.
Punitive damages are awarded by the legal system as a means to punish those who have caused the harm in an effort to prevent similar acts from happening again at a future time.
These awards can be quite substantial and are meant to send a clear message that this type of incident should never happen.
Medical staff and hospitals have large legal teams working to protect their interests at all costs.
This means they often attempt to have cases settle quickly, outside of court in an effort to keep their reputations from being tarnished.
If you do not make use of a personal injury attorney for this process you may be encouraged to sign an agreement that may not be ideal, and may not fully protect your rights.
Before signing anything or agreeing to any settlement prepared by the legal staff working for the doctor or hospital, speak with a personal injury attorney.
He or she will examine your case in full, collect evidence, gather medical records, and decide the best course of action.
This extra measure will provide you with great peace of mind in knowing you have made the best decisions.
A personal injury attorney cannot reverse the damage that has been done, and he or she cannot bring back a loved one who has perished because of an associated disease that was not properly diagnosed.
That being said, an attorney can help you to pick up the pieces that you have been left with in order to move forward in a new positive direction.