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LABORATORY ERRORS

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Laboratory Error Lawsuits: Protecting Patients from Medical Testing Mistakes

Accurate lab testing is essential to modern medicine. Physicians rely on lab results to diagnose illnesses, guide treatment, and make life-changing decisions for patients. When laboratories make mistakes—whether through mislabeling, contamination, faulty equipment, or human error—the consequences can be devastating. Patients may receive the wrong diagnosis, delayed treatment, or unnecessary procedures that put their health at risk.

Common Types of Laboratory Errors

Laboratory errors can take many forms, including:

  • Specimen mislabeling: leading to mixed-up test results between patients.

  • Contamination: introducing foreign substances that distort results.

  • Improper handling or storage: affecting blood, tissue, or urine sample integrity.

  • Equipment malfunction or calibration issues.

  • Clerical mistakes: transcription errors or data entry problems.

  • Misinterpretation of test findings.

investigating hospital diagnostic errors & Lab Mistakes

There are thousands of medical laboratories around the country, many of them in-house at hospitals and medical centers, and patients rely on their expertise and accuracy in times of need. Laboratory errors are downright unacceptable. Medical labs serve a crucial purpose, and receiving proper diagnostic tests can be the difference between an accurate, timely diagnosis and a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.

Regardless of whether it is a hospital lab or a third-party outsourced lab like Quest or LabCorp, medical professionals and hospitals have a duty to provide correct information to patients. Lab technicians and physicians work together to diagnose diseases and illnesses, prescribe medications, and plan treatment for individuals.

When laboratory malpractice and diagnostic errors lead to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, the medical center and lab can be held accountable for the damages they have caused.

Joe Lyon is a Medical Malpractice Attorney and Hospital Error Lawyer reviewing radiology and laboratory malpractice for plaintiffs nationwide.

Laboratory Errors & Diagnostic Errors

A timely and proper diagnosis is critical so patients can quickly begin treatment and get back to full health. But an accurate diagnosis can often only be confirmed by the results of X-rays, biopsies, blood samples and other diagnostic testing. Laboratory errors can include mislabeling samples, losing test results, and a failure to accurately interpret and communicate test results to doctors and patients.

Medical diagnosis for many serious illnesses and conditions like cancer involve a wide range of testing. Hospitals have the ability to treat patients with impressive modern medical advances, but when labs and medical staff make mistakes, patients may suffer the consequences.

Diagnostic errors and laboratory malpractice can easily result in wrong, delayed or missed diagnosis. Diagnostic testing mistakes and failure to diagnose patients are a leading cause of medical malpractice lawsuits, and perhaps only second to surgical errors in the number of patients harmed by negligence.

laboratory errors hospital acquired infections blood incompatibility

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

Hospital Laboratory Negligence

Radiologists are held in high regard by any medical team. The specialists are tasked with interpreting radiographs like X-rays and MRIs to determine a patient’s condition. But when a doctor misses something obviously seen on film, a patient may not be diagnosed correctly.

Missed cancer diagnosis is relatively common, and often the result of radiology malpractice. Doctors do make mistakes, and though they may not intentionally make a professional error, they may be held responsible in medical malpractice litigation.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of laboratory malpractice, it is important to speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney who understands this complex area of the law. The Lyon Firm works with medical experts who can look into each unique course of events and determine the root cause of injury or death.

Delayed Diagnosis & Misdiagnosis Lawsuits

A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis case involves a patient who is told they do not have a disease when they in fact do. Failure to diagnose lawsuits can name doctors, hospitals and lab technicians as defendants. A lab error or misreading a test result can result in serious injury and death. Almost every health condition is better treated early, and early diagnosis can save lives.

Most laboratory errors are due to pre-analytical factors, poor communication, and poorly designed processes. Examples of laboratory malpractice include:

  • Conducting the wrong tests
  • Misreading or misinterpreting lab results
  • Mixing up patient samples
  • Mislabeling samples
  • Losing medical records
  • Delayed testing
  • Recording wrong results
  • Contaminating samples
  • Failure to communicate results
  • Failure to follow up with patients

Laboratory Error Lawsuits

Lab mistakes can include false positive tests or false negatives. Both errors can cause harm to a patient, as a treatment may be unnecessary or a delayed treatment may lead to a wrongful death. Medical malpractice cases arise when a duty of care is not met by a medical professional, and an injury or death results.

Medical labs have strict protocols, though mistakes are still made on a regular basis. Approximately 250,000 people die each year as a result of medical errors, many of which involve a failure to diagnose a patient.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon reviewing laboratory errors
A Voice for Those who have suffered 

Why Hire The Lyon Firm?

The Lyon Firm has decades of experience handling complex medical negligence and malpractice claims. Laboratory error cases require a deep understanding of both medical processes and legal strategies, and our firm has the resources to take on hospitals, labs, and insurance companies. When you choose The Lyon Firm, you benefit from:

  • Extensive experience in medical malpractice and patient safety litigation.

  • Access to top medical experts who can identify where lab procedures failed.

  • Personalized legal strategies tailored to your unique case.

  • Compassionate representation during a difficult and confusing time.

  • Contingency-based fees, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.

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Do I Have a Case?
Questions about Lab Error Lawsuits
Can I sue the laboratory directly?

Yes. Depending on the circumstances, patients may sue the lab, technicians, or associated medical providers responsible for the error.

What damages can be recovered?

Compensation may include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and in severe cases, wrongful death damages.

Do laboratory error cases settle or go to trial?

Many cases are resolved through settlements, though some proceed to trial when labs deny liability.

Your Right to Safe healthcare

Legal Claims in Laboratory Error Cases

When a laboratory error causes harm, patients may file a lawsuit against the facility, its staff, or third-party contractors. Claims typically allege:

  • Negligence in following standard testing procedures.

  • Failure to maintain or calibrate laboratory equipment.

  • Inadequate training or supervision of lab technicians.

  • Breach of the duty of care owed to patients.

Successful lawsuits may provide compensation for:

  • Medical expenses, including corrective treatment.

  • Lost wages and reduced earning ability.

  • Pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

  • Wrongful death damages for surviving families.

laboratory error
Our Victories

The Lyon Firm aggressively, professionally, and passionately advocates for injured individuals and families against companies due to a defective product or recalled product to obtain just compensation under the law. 

FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

WRONGFUL DEATH

(Cincinnati, Ohio):  Confidential settlement for a family due to a wrongful death. An emergency room physician failed to recognize the common symptoms associated with bowel obstruction and prescribed a contraindicated medicine of GoLytley.  The patient died at home the day of discharge after taking the medication. The case against the emergency room physician was resolved by settlement following extensive discovery. The settlement was paid to the spouse and surviving adult children for the loss of their mother. While no amount of money could bring back their mother, the case provided answers and held the hospital accountable.

FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE BREAST CANCER

$910,000 Settlement.

(Cincinnati, Ohio):   Joe Lyon was second chair in a case involving the failure of a physician to promptly communicate a positive breast cancer result to a patient. As a result of the delay, the cancer progressed from in situ carcinoma to stage 3B with lymph node involvement. The treatment required mastectomy and radiation/ chemotherapy rather than a simple excision. The case settled after extensive discovery. The defense argued: “the patient should have called the physician.” The settlement provided recovery for suffering through a misdiagnosis and the loss of a spouse and a mother. While the settlement cannot bring this wonderful woman back, it helped her family move forward with life’s challenges and encouraged  future accountability.

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