On Dec. 14, it was reported that a bill that could make it easier for cancer patients to file medical malpractice claims was sitting unsigned on the governor’s desk. Called Lavern’s Law, this bill would extend the window of time that patients in New York and elsewhere around the country could initiate medical malpractice cases concerning cancer to when they discover the error. As the bill stands, the two-and-a-half-year time limit starts when the mistake actually happened.

According to a recent study, more than one-half of patients diagnosed with optic neuritis may have another condition affecting their eyesight. The study also suggests that the misdiagnosis is usually due to a limited patient history. Individuals in New York receiving this diagnosis may consider a second opinion.

Patients undergoing medical tests in New York might not realize that many tests are not 100 percent accurate. Factors among people, such as genetics, could result in inaccurate results and a misdiagnosis. A study conducted by PLOS Medicine revealed the potential cost savings on health care when infants in South Africa received two tests for HIV instead of one before continuing treatment.

Despite advancements in medicine, some New Yorkers die from pneumonia every year. With prompt diagnoses and proper treatment, more people could survive bouts of pneumonia. Unfortunately, pneumonia is sometimes misdiagnosed by radiologists when people go to to the emergency department.