Misdiagnosis of Autoimmune Diseases (Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus)

Autoimmune diseases affect millions of Americans, with serious conditions like lupus and multiple sclerosis causing debilitating symptoms that disrupt daily activities and quality of life. When physicians fail to correctly diagnose these conditions, patients suffer through years of inappropriate treatments, worsening symptoms, and diminished health outcomes.

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our medical malpractice attorneys understand the devastating impact of misdiagnosed autoimmune conditions, and we fight relentlessly for patients who have suffered due to diagnostic errors. Call our experienced Illinois attorneys today or complete our online form for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your potential medical malpractice claim.

What Is Autoimmune Disease Misdiagnosis?

An autoimmune disease misdiagnosis occurs when healthcare providers incorrectly identify or fail to recognize an autoimmune condition, leading to improper treatment plans and delayed interventions. Autoimmune diseases develop when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues, creating widespread inflammation and damage throughout various body systems.

Misdiagnosis happens for several critical reasons, including the following:

• Complex, overlapping symptoms that mimic other conditions
• Limited physician awareness of rare autoimmune conditions
• Inconsistent symptomatic presentations
• Failure to order appropriate diagnostic testing
• Inadequate attention to patient-reported symptoms

Studies indicate that patients with autoimmune conditions frequently wait years for an accurate diagnosis. During this time, they often receive multiple incorrect diagnoses, undergo unnecessary treatments, and experience progressive deterioration of their health. This diagnostic journey commonly includes misattributions to psychological conditions, with many patients reporting that their physical symptoms were dismissed as anxiety, depression, or stress-related complaints.

Lupus Misdiagnosis

Lupus misdiagnosis is one of the most common diagnostic failures in autoimmune medicine. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents with varied symptoms that affect multiple body systems, making it particularly challenging to identify. Research indicates the average time from initial symptoms to accurate diagnosis spans nearly seven years.

Common misdiagnoses for lupus include the following:

• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Mental health conditions
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Skin disorders

Diagnostic delays for lupus patients often occur because physicians fail to connect seemingly unrelated symptoms such as joint pain, skin rashes, fatigue, fever, and cognitive issues. Without timely intervention, untreated lupus can cause significant organ damage, particularly affecting the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.

Medical standards require doctors to conduct thorough differential diagnoses when evaluating patients with persistent symptoms. For lupus patients, appropriate testing includes antinuclear antibody panels, comprehensive bloodwork, and careful symptom tracking. Failure to conduct these essential evaluations may constitute negligence when it leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Multiple Sclerosis Misdiagnosis

Multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis presents another critical concern within the autoimmune disease spectrum. MS affects the central nervous system, causing symptoms that can easily be mistaken for other conditions. The disease damages the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers, disrupting signal transmission between the brain and body.

MS misdiagnosis occurs in the following two primary forms:

• False Negative – Failing to diagnose MS when it exists
• False Positive – Diagnosing MS when the patient has another condition

When physicians incorrectly diagnose multiple sclerosis, patients may receive disease-modifying therapies that expose them to unnecessary risks. These potential dangers include adverse drug reactions, compromised immune function, and significant financial burden. Conversely, when MS goes undiagnosed, patients miss crucial early intervention opportunities that could prevent irreversible neurological damage.

Proper MS diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation, including the following:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Spinal fluid analysis
• Evoked potential tests (a measurement of how the electrical activity in your central nervous system responds to various stimuli)
• Clinical history assessment
• Application of established diagnostic criteria

When healthcare providers skip these important diagnostic steps or misinterpret results, patients suffer preventable harm through delayed treatment or inappropriate medical interventions.

Can You Sue for Autoimmune Disease Misdiagnosis?

In Illinois, medical malpractice law provides a pathway for compensation when healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care in diagnosing autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune disorder malpractice claims require establishing that a doctor-patient relationship existed, the provider breached the standard of care, and this breach directly caused harm to the patient.

Potential compensation recoverable in an autoimmune misdiagnosis case may include the following:

• Medical expenses for unnecessary treatments
• Additional costs for treating worsened conditions
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Physical and psychological pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life

Illinois has specific requirements for medical malpractice claims, including statutes of limitation that restrict the time available to file suit. Generally, patients must bring claims within two years of discovering the misdiagnosis but not more than four years from when the misdiagnosis occurred, with certain exceptions for minors.

To prevail in these complex cases, patients must demonstrate that a reasonably skilled physician in the same specialty would have accurately diagnosed their condition given the same circumstances. This typically requires expert medical testimony to establish where the treating physician deviated from accepted standards. Working with our skilled attorneys can give you the information and support you need for a successful claim.

How an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help

The attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have an outstanding track record recovering compensation for victims of medical malpractice, and we bring our significant experience and resources to autoimmune misdiagnosis cases. Our firm has recovered over $2.5 billion for injured clients, including the highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual plaintiff in Illinois history.

When you partner with our medical malpractice team, we are prepared to do the following for your case:

• Conduct thorough medical record reviews with expert consultants
• Identify precisely where diagnostic errors occurred
• Establish the standard of care applicable to your case
• Calculate the full extent of the losses you have sustained due to your misdiagnosis
• Aggressively negotiate with healthcare providers and insurers
• Prepare comprehensively for trial when necessary

Our team includes more than 20 top litigators supported by over 35 dedicated staff members who understand the nuances of medical malpractice litigation. With more than 350 verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million, we have demonstrated our commitment to securing maximum compensation for medical negligence victims.

Patients who have endured years of misdiagnosis deserve skilled legal representation to recover full compensation for their suffering. Discover how our experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorneys can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your potential autoimmune disease misdiagnosis claim. You pay nothing unless we recover money for your case.