Delayed Diagnosis in Pennsylvania
Average Settlement: $250,000 - $800,000 | Statute: 2 years from the date the cause of action accrues
About Delayed Diagnosis
Delayed diagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to identify a medical condition in a timely manner, allowing the disease to progress to a more advanced and less treatable stage. Unlike misdiagnosis, the correct diagnosis is eventually made, but the delay causes measurable harm to the patient. These cases are especially common in cancers, heart disease, and infections where early intervention is critical to survival.
Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Laws
Statute of Limitations
2 years from the date the cause of action accrues
Damage Cap
No cap on damages
Discovery Rule
Pennsylvania applies the discovery rule, beginning the statute when the plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of the injury and its cause, subject to a 7-year statute of repose (with exceptions).
Pre-Filing Requirements
Plaintiffs must file a certificate of merit within 60 days of filing the complaint, certifying that an appropriate licensed professional has reviewed the claim and believes there is a reasonable basis for the action.
Common Examples of Delayed Diagnosis
- •Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests when symptoms are present
- •Delayed cancer diagnosis due to ignoring persistent symptoms or abnormal screening results
- •Failing to follow up on abnormal lab work or imaging findings
- •Dismissing patient complaints as stress or aging when a serious condition exists
- •Delayed diagnosis of appendicitis leading to rupture and sepsis
- •Failure to refer a patient to a specialist in a timely manner
- •Delayed identification of infections such as meningitis or sepsis
Key Facts
- ✓Proving a delayed diagnosis claim requires establishing that an earlier diagnosis would have led to a materially better outcome for the patient
- ✓Cancer cases are the most common delayed diagnosis claims, with breast, lung, and colorectal cancers being the most frequently litigated
- ✓Medical experts must testify about the staging and prognosis at the time the diagnosis should have been made versus when it was actually made
- ✓Electronic health records showing when symptoms were first reported and what follow-up actions were taken are key evidence
- ✓Some delayed diagnosis cases involve systemic failures, such as lost test results or miscommunicated findings between providers, which can implicate hospitals and health systems
- ✓Pennsylvania requires a certificate of merit within 60 days of filing, certified by an appropriate licensed professional.
- ✓Philadelphia has historically been one of the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions for medical malpractice in the nation.
- ✓Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar.
- ✓There are no caps on compensatory damages (economic or non-economic) in Pennsylvania.
- ✓Venue rules require malpractice cases to be filed in the county where the cause of action arose.
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed medical malpractice attorney in Pennsylvania.