Q: I was misdiagnosed as having schizoaffective disorder for ~18 years. My psychiatrist has verbally admitted to her error.
She indicated that she has suspected that I was not on the schizophrenia spectrum for years. The symptoms that caused the misdiagnosis were due to psychological and emotional abuse by my husband (a covert narcissist), and she also never identified that I was being abused. I was severely overmedicated up until 2 years ago, when I was diagnosed with hypercapnea that was directly attributed to being overmedicated and my PCP indicated that there could be serious consequences if my medications were not removed/reduced. I have been unable to work since 2005 and will probably never be able to work again. I am having Zero luck finding a lawyer in California who takes psychiatric malpractice cases.
ETA~I just looked up this doctor on Yelp. I had never done that before.
She has 23 reviews right now. 21 are 1 star. ~13~ SPECIFICALLY mentioned both being misdiagnosed AND overmedicated. That is just the people who took the time to write Yelp reviews.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
I'm sorry to hear about what you've been through. It’s important to seek legal advice to understand your options regarding the misdiagnosis and overmedication you experienced. Start by reaching out to the State Bar of California, which can help you find attorneys who handle medical malpractice cases.
You might also consider contacting local legal aid organizations in San Francisco that offer services to individuals with limited resources. Additionally, gathering all your medical records and any documentation related to your diagnosis and treatment will be crucial for your case.
Support groups for individuals who have faced similar challenges can provide guidance and possibly recommend attorneys who have successfully handled psychiatric malpractice. Remember, taking these steps can help you find the assistance you need to move forward.
A:
To explore your options, you might consider reaching out to an experienced medical malpractice attorney to assess the potential of your case. HHJ Trial Attorneys are known for handling complex cases and may be able to provide guidance on whether pursuing a claim is feasible and what documentation you'll need, such as medical records, expert opinions, and evidence of damages you've sustained.
https://hhjtrialattorneys.com/
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
