47 Wildly Incorrect Medical Diagnoses That Ruined Lives

It's easy to blame the specialists in these cases, and while they can definitely be at fault, it's important to understand that doctors, nurses, and the rest of the staff are but a chain in a much larger system that is healthcare.

Iris Gorfinkel, M.D. is a general practitioner, medical researcher, and the founder of PrimeHealth Family Practice and Clinical Research in Toronto, Ontario.

She told Bored Panda, "Misdiagnosing starts with patients being interrupted by their doctors within 18 seconds. That's on average. Mistakes happen because we're so often rushed and take shortcuts.

"Some of those shortcuts happen based on how frequently we see a problem in clinical practice. For example, if someone comes in and they say, 'It burns when I urinate.' Yes, it could be a urinary tract infection, but it could also be a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia or gonorrhea, and that needs a separate test, not just a urine culture," Gorfinkel explained.

"So, landing on a diagnosis after the first symptom we hear, and not listening to the whole story, is risky."

Another big problem, which Gorfinkel believes is also accelerated by AI, is that doctors aren't personally connecting enough with their patients.

"Medicine isn't just a pill. It's very much the person who's providing it. It's that interaction," she highlighted.

"I think the bottom line is patients shouldn't be afraid to ask more questions, to get more answers, even if it means challenging their doctor. And if that doctor should act angry or defensively, that by itself needs to be addressed."

Since the problems are so multifaceted, the potential solution list is also very nuanced. "One thing that would help is making sure that we're communicating with the healthcare workers on the team," Gorfinkel said.

"Whether it's a specialist or a physiotherapist, we just want to make sure that their understanding and our understanding [of a particular case] match.

"Open charting for patients is one of the ways that makes a difference. It allows patients to see their records, follow them, and be proactive in their care."

This practice engages us, and we care more as a result.

Another thing worth mentioning is that difficult, uncommon diagnoses are often delayed (for a variety of reasons). Because of this, Gorfinkel believes that it's important for clinicians to adapt and slow down their thinking as well.

"If the pieces of the puzzle don't fit, patients shouldn't be afraid to say, 'Wait a second, what about this symptom that doesn't quite fit the picture?' As I mentioned, having the sense that you've been heard by itself is important medicine.

"Yes, it's being threatened by AI, but it certainly hasn't been lost."

We, the patients, mustn't forget that we also bear responsibility and need to actively participate in our treatment.

"When things do not work out after you've been given a medicine, a therapy, or advice, be sure to follow up," Gorfinkel said. "If there's a feeling that you just aren't better, or if there are unanswered questions, asking them is really important.

"People with family doctors actually live longer because they have one conductor who sees the big picture instead of multiple specialists trying to [glue together the pieces]," she added.

Gorfinkel acknowledges that doctors' attitude also plays a role in these cases. "I think misdiagnosis frequently comes from overconfidence, and there's nothing more humbling than the practice of medicine," she said. "The best doctors know that and aren't afraid of eating humble pie when it's served."

This means that we want doctors to be experienced, but at the same time, we should respect those who can admit when they're not certain or when they lack experience in treating a certain problem. "These are physicians who keep overconfidence in check and know that hubris is the bedfellow of misdiagnosis," Gorfinkel explained.

The 2024 Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index revealed that doctors and scientists are considered the world's most trustworthy professions.

Across 28 countries from around the world that took part, doctors came in first with an average of 58% of the global population claiming they have full confidence in them.

It's unreasonable to expect that the 11% that we mentioned in the intro can be brought down to 0. But that doesn't mean we can't try.