Can you sue a doctor for misdiagnosis in Texas?

Asked by: Terrance Gibson  |  Last update: October 13, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (33 votes)

If a doctor negligently misdiagnosis a patient, and that person sustains major harm, they can possibly have grounds to file a lawsuit. Some illnesses can cause extensive harm that can cost a significant amount of money to treat.

Can you sue for misdiagnosis in Texas?

If you have been misdiagnosed by your doctor, you may be able to sue for medical malpractice. An attorney can help you determine whether or not you have a viable case and how much compensation you may be entitled to receive.

How hard is it to sue a doctor in Texas?

Texas law has made medical malpractice cases very difficult and expensive to litigate and the caps on compensation mean that it can often cost more to pursue a case than you can receive in damages. These cases also require costly expert review and testimony from medical professionals and many hours of deposition.

Can you sue if a doctor misdiagnosed you?

Yes, you have the option to sue a doctor for misdiagnosis if you can demonstrate negligence, causation, and damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Successful cases require proving that the doctor's failure to meet the standard of care directly led to harm, allowing you to seek legal action for the misdiagnosis.

What can I do if my doctor misdiagnosed me?

If you think a doctor has misdiagnosed you, ask your doctor for a detailed explanation of your diagnosis and why they chose it. Next, seek a second opinion from another doctor to compare diagnoses. Keep a record of your symptoms, treatments, and any changes in your health.

What you and your family need to know about medical malpractice in Texas

22 related questions found

How do you prove misdiagnosis?

To prove you've been a victim of medical misdiagnosis, you must demonstrate that their failure to diagnose you appropriately had a detrimental effect on your health. For example, if a doctor misread your X-rays and didn't see a tumor, that is medical negligence.

What is an example of a misdiagnosis?

Misdiagnosis is a form of medical malpractice where a medical professional incorrectly diagnoses an illness or a medical condition, which leads to inaccurate treatment procedures. For instance, a doctor may diagnose a patient's chest pains as a symptom of indigestion, missing the signs of a potential heart attack.

What to do if a doctor makes a mistake?

The first thing to understand when a hospital or doctor makes a mistake is that you have rights. You may choose to file a complaint with your state's medical board, as well as seek remediation through legal means. The law allows patients to file a malpractice claim up to two years after the date of the injury.

Can I sue urgent care for misdiagnosis?

For patients who have been harmed as a result of a misdiagnosis at an urgent care clinic, legal recourse may be available. A skilled personal injury attorney with experience in medical malpractice cases can help victims pursue justice and compensation for their injuries.

Is it worth suing a doctor?

Malpractice lawsuits are expensive, time consuming, and can open you up to public inspection. And, unlike most other types of personal injury claims, case trends show a tendency toward favoring doctors and other care providers, not injured plaintiffs.

How much can you sue a doctor for in Texas?

The Texas Medical Malpractice and Tort Reform Act severely restricts that amount of damages that medical malpractice victims can obtain for pain and suffering. Non-economic damages against all doctors and health care providers capped at $250,000. Non-economic damages against health care facilities capped at $500,000.

What is the average medical malpractice settlement in Texas?

From those statistics, the average malpractice settlement for 2022 was about $365,000. The average malpractice settlement in Texas in 2022 was about $252,800.

Can I sue my doctor for emotional distress in Texas?

No, in Texas, you are not allowed to sue (or file an emotional distress lawsuit) for emotional distress alone, also known as NEID (negligent infliction of emotional distress). However, you may be able to recover damages for NEID as part of a personal injury claim if you have also suffered a physical injury.

Can you file a medical malpractice lawsuit without a lawyer?

When you make a conscious decision to file a malpractice suit without a lawyer, the court will treat you the same as the defendant's lawyers. They will expect you to understand and follow the same legal process as the defense.

What happens if a doctor misdiagnosed you?

Any victim of infection misdiagnoses which leads to negligent treatment has the legal right to seek monetary compensation for: Past and future medical bills. Past and future lost wages. Pain, suffering, disability and disfigurement.

Are doctors held accountable for mistakes?

These errors come to the attention of the law through complaints from patients harmed by them but only a minority of people who suffer harm complain, and most complaints are resolved by local healthcare mechanisms. So the vast majority of medical errors are not dealt with (or even recognized by) the law.

What is considered a medical mistake?

An unintended act (either of omission or commission) or one that does not achieve its intended outcome (Leape, 1994). Deviations from the process of care, which may or may not cause harm to the patient (Reason, 2001).

What is the most common misdiagnosis?

Colorectal cancer currently holds the ignoble title of being the disease that doctors are most likely to misdiagnose.

What is the hardest disease to diagnose?

The following serious medical conditions are among the top ten most difficult diseases to diagnose.
  1. Sepsis. Sepsis is an onslaught of the body's natural reaction to serious infection. ...
  2. Pulmonary Embolus. ...
  3. Appendicitis. ...
  4. Compartment Syndrome. ...
  5. Post-Procedure Bowel Perforation or Injury. ...
  6. Lyme Disease. ...
  7. Necrotizing Fasciitis. ...
  8. Cancer.

What are the consequences of misdiagnosis?

The potential harm from diagnostic errors could range from no harm to significant harm, including morbidity or death. Errors can be harmful because they can prevent or delay appropriate treatment, lead to unnecessary or harmful treatment, or result in psychological or financial repercussions.

What is the most common reason for misdiagnosis?

Common causes for Misdiagnosis

Miscommunication – miscommunication between medical professionals can mean that a patient is misdiagnosed. Lack of experience – if a healthcare professional does not have a lot of experience, they may not be able to diagnose certain conditions.

Can I sue my doctor for not diagnosing me?

Yes. Just as with any personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, there is a statute of limitations for failure to diagnose malpractice. After a failed diagnosis takes place, the time to file a lawsuit varies from one state to another, but very rarely does the time limit exceed a period of 3 years.

Can a doctor not tell you the truth about your diagnosis?

Aside from the ethical mandate of truth telling in the modern age of medicine, physicians in most states are also legally obligated to disclose all relevant health information to patients.