Ohio teenagers may be less likely to have their polycystic ovary syndrome misdiagnosed thanks to a study that found links between hormones and the condition. At the yearly meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, researchers presented the results of their study that looked at 23 patients with PCOS alongside a control group. The researchers found that teenage girls with PCOS also had high levels of the hormone irisin and higher testosterone.
Around 12 percent of women suffer from PCOS, and it can be difficult to detect in teens because some of its symptoms, including irregular menstruation, are also normal occurrences in puberty. Researchers say than an earlier and more accurate diagnosis means that the disease could be managed more effectively. Doctors are sometimes hesitant to treat teens for it when they cannot get a definite diagnosis.
Type 2 diabetes and fertility problems are among the issues that can result from PCOS, but researchers say that medication and counseling can help. There is no cure for PCOS, and its cause is unknown.
Diagnosing a disease like PCOS may require a doctor to work through a series of potential scenarios before arriving at the right diagnosis, but in some cases, a doctor’s failure to diagnose may be negligent. One difference in the two from a legal standpoint is whether a person received a reasonable standard of care based on what other doctors would have done in similar circumstances. People who feels that their misdiagnosis constitutes medical malpractice might want to begin by discussing the situation with an attorney to see if the right elements and evidence may be in place to build a strong case. For a successful lawsuit, plaintiffs must also demonstrate they were harmed by the doctor’s medical negligence.