Veterans and military families rely on Hawaii's VA centers and military hospitals for accurate diagnoses. Yet diagnostic errors harm many veterans.
Misdiagnosis is a leading type of medical malpractice, affecting 12 million Americans each year. Because our founding attorney is both a doctor and lawyer, we have unique insight into medical standards.
If misdiagnosis at a Hawaii VA or military facility harmed you, you have rights under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Knowing these rights is essential to get compensation.
What Causes Misdiagnosis at Hawaii Military & VA Hospitals?
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Failure to Order Necessary Diagnostic Tests: Doctors sometimes skip needed tests, letting serious conditions go undetected.
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Misinterpretation of Test Results: Providers may read scans, tests, or lab results wrongly, missing critical diagnoses.
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Inadequate Patient History Taking: Not getting full medical histories or ignoring symptoms can miss important clues.
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Premature Diagnostic Closure: Doctors may decide on a diagnosis too quickly without exploring other options.
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Communication Failures Between Providers: Poor handoffs and bad documentation can delay proper diagnosis.
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System-Level Failures: Short staffing and rushed visits create more chances for errors.
Hawaii Facilities Where We Handle Misdiagnosis Cases
We help misdiagnosis victims at these federal medical facilities:
Tripler Army Medical Center (Honolulu) - Major Army facility handling complex emergency and specialty cases.
Honolulu VA Medical Center (Honolulu) - Serves veterans with primary and specialty care.
Naval Health Clinic Hawaii (Pearl Harbor) - Treats active duty personnel and families.
View all Hawaii VA & Military Facilities
Warning Signs: Is Your Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice?
- Providers dismissed clear symptoms, skipping proper testing.
- Tests were delayed despite urgent symptoms
- No one told you about abnormal test results
- Different doctors gave conflicting diagnoses without explanation
- You were told symptoms were "normal," yet received no tests.
- Test results got lost or follow-ups were delayed
- Your condition got much worse while waiting for diagnosis
Damages Available in Hawaii Misdiagnosis Cases
Economic Damages
Misdiagnosis often leads to major financial losses. These can include:
- Lifetime medical costs birth injury claims
- Extra surgeries
- Ongoing therapy
- Medicine costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
Non-Economic Damages
Misdiagnosis causes emotional and physical harm beyond money. You can get compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety and depression
- Family relationship impacts
Hawaii-Specific Considerations
Hawaii law caps non-economic damages at $375,000 in medical malpractice cases.