Untreated appendicitis can inflict deadly consequences. When a patient seeks medical treatment displaying signs of appendicitis, the last thing they expect is a misdiagnosis.
When a doctor is negligent in making a misdiagnosis, the patient may recover their losses through a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you or a loved one received an appendicitis misdiagnosis, you may be eligible to file a claim.
A member of our team can review the circumstances of your case to determine whether you qualify to file a medical malpractice claim. Contact a lawyer at our office today to schedule an appointment.
Key Takeaways: Appendicitis Misdiagnosis in Maryland
- If appendicitis is missed or diagnosed too late, the condition can worsen quickly and lead to rupture, infection, and emergency surgery.
- Many Maryland cases focus on whether symptoms were evaluated appropriately and whether reasonable testing, imaging, or follow-up should have happened sooner.
- Clear timelines, ER notes, discharge instructions, imaging and lab results, and documentation of worsening pain often matter most when evaluating a claim.
- A focused review can help determine whether earlier diagnosis and treatment likely would have reduced harm and prevented complications.
If You Were Sent Home Still in Pain, You’re Not Alone
Many people land on this page because they did what they were supposed to do: they went to the doctor or the emergency room, explained their symptoms, and trusted the decision. When appendicitis is missed, it can feel confusing and unfair—especially if the pain worsened after discharge. If you are looking for answers in Maryland, a case review can help you understand whether the care you received was reasonable.
What Is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis occurs when a person’s appendix is inflamed, often causing pain and irritation. It is typically caused by a blockage in the lining of the appendix.
The appendix is a small organ on the lower right side of the abdomen that sticks out from the colon. Common symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Sudden pain starting around the belly button and shifting to the lower right abdomen;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Constipation;
- Abdominal bloating;
- Sharp pain in the lower right abdomen; and
- Abdominal pain that worsens when coughing, sneezing, or making sudden movements.
The site of a person’s appendix can shift as they grow into adulthood or when they are pregnant.
Is Appendicitis Dangerous?
Appendicitis is a medical condition that requires immediate treatment. An inflamed, swollen appendix is painful and at risk of bursting. When an appendix breaks open, referred to as a burst appendix, the infection inside spreads throughout the patient’s abdomen.
A burst appendix is a life-threatening condition if untreated. An appendix can rupture as soon as 48 hours after symptoms of appendicitis develop.
The best way to avoid a burst appendix is to remove the organ once a physician sees signs of appendicitis.
How Often Is Appendicitis Misdiagnosed?
The symptoms of appendicitis are detailed above. However, abdominal pain is a symptom of several different medical issues.
Acute appendicitis misdiagnosis is more likely in atypical presentations, inadequate examinations, IM narcotic administration followed by ED discharge, incorrect gastroenteritis diagnoses, or insufficient discharge instructions.
A physician must conduct several tests to identify whether the patient is suffering from appendicitis or another ailment. Common misdiagnoses for appendicitis include:
- Pancreatitis,
- Crohn’s disease,
- Menstrual cramps,
- Endometriosis,
- Intestinal obstructions, and
- Gastroenteritis.
Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in the United States. However, it is often misdiagnosed, with studies showing that between 3.8% and 15% of children and 5.9% to 23.5% of adults are incorrectly diagnosed during an emergency department visit.
Misdiagnosis is more likely to be in women, patients with pre-existing conditions, or patients experiencing abdominal pain with constipation.
What Are the Potential Consequences of an Appendicitis Misdiagnosis?
Misdiagnosed appendicitis will likely delay any treatment for the patient’s infected appendix. In some cases, an inflamed appendix can burst within 48 to 72 hours of when symptoms develop.
When an appendix bursts, the pus and other bacteria leak into the abdominal cavity, causing an astronomical risk of infection. Without prompt medical attention, a ruptured appendix can result in life-threatening complications.
Clarity Starts With a Simple Timeline
You do not need perfect records or the right medical words to start. In many appendicitis misdiagnosis cases, the turning point is the timeline: when symptoms began, what was reported, what testing was done, and what happened after discharge. A focused review can help identify whether delays or missed warning signs likely changed the outcome.
Is Misdiagnosed Appendicitis Grounds for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
In some cases, an appendicitis misdiagnosis is a form of medical malpractice. However, the plaintiff must prove that the medical provider was negligent in failing to diagnose the patient with appendicitis.
To prove negligence, the plaintiff must show:
- The plaintiff was in a doctor-patient relationship with the defendant that imposed a duty of care to act as a similarly trained professional would under the same or similar circumstances;
- The defendant breached their duty of care by failing to act as a similarly trained professional would under the same or similar circumstances;
- The plaintiff suffered injuries due to the misdiagnosis; and
- The misdiagnosis caused the plaintiff losses.
It is not enough to show that a doctor ran all the necessary tests and incorrectly diagnosed a condition after a thorough investigation. Instead, the plaintiff must show that they were negligent in your treatment, ultimately resulting in the misdiagnosis.
That means proving that a medical professional with similar training and experience would have properly diagnosed the appendicitis and reacted appropriately. Actions that can demonstrate a negligent misdiagnosis include:
- Neglecting to run CT scans,
- Reacting too slowly once appendicitis is suspected,
- Missing obvious symptoms of appendicitis,
- Misreading lab results,
- Failing to review a patient’s medical history, and
- Failing to diagnose appendicitis promptly.
An appendicitis misdiagnosis can increase the amount of time a patient suffers pain and discomfort from their inflamed appendix and put them at risk of death without additional treatment.
100% Free Consultation for Appendicitis Misdiagnosis in Maryland
If appendicitis was missed, the result can be far more than pain—it can be rupture, infection, unexpected surgery, and long recovery. Most people who reach out are not looking for drama; they want to know whether the medical decisions made sense and whether earlier care could have prevented what happened next. You do not need to have every record in hand to start the conversation.
We can listen to what happened, help you organize the timeline, and explain whether the situation fits a medical malpractice claim in Maryland. If there is a path forward, we can guide the next steps in a clear, respectful way.
- Tell us what happened and when symptoms changed.
- We identify what records and details matter most.
- You receive straightforward guidance on your options in Maryland.
Did You or a Loved One Receive a Misdiagnosis for Appendicitis? Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer for a Free Consultation
In some cases, an appendicitis misdiagnosis is a fatal mistake. If you or a loved one received a misdiagnosis that caused wrongful death, a member of our team can help you recover your losses.
A medical malpractice lawyer gives you the best opportunity to secure the maximum misdiagnosis lawsuit settlement possible.
A medical malpractice attorney can assist your case by:
- Compiling invoices and financial documents to calculate the financial cost of the misdiagnosis,
- Demonstrating the responsible party’s negligence caused the misdiagnosis, and
- Preparing your case to go to trial.
We have extensive courtroom experience and will not shy away from taking the responsible party to trial. Our team is committed to helping our clients recover from their misdiagnosis and secure the best possible outcome.
Contact a misdiagnosis attorney at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico to talk to a member of our team.
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FAQ: Appendicitis Misdiagnosis Lawsuits in Maryland
If you are wondering whether you can sue for appendicitis misdiagnosis in Maryland, these answers explain what usually matters: what was missed, what should have been done, and how the delay caused harm.
Possibly. An appendicitis misdiagnosis lawsuit (Maryland) usually depends on whether the provider’s decisions fell below reasonable medical care and whether that mistake caused preventable harm, such as a ruptured appendix, infection, or avoidable hospitalization.
A failure to diagnose appendicitis can involve missing clear symptoms, not performing an appropriate exam, not ordering reasonable testing, or not taking worsening pain seriously. The key issue is whether a reasonable provider would have acted differently under similar circumstances.
A delayed diagnosis of appendicitis can matter when the delay allows the condition to worsen. If earlier evaluation and treatment likely would have prevented complications, that connection can support a malpractice claim in Maryland.
Missed appendicitis in the emergency room often involves rushed exams, incomplete workups, or discharge without appropriate follow-up. When serious symptoms were present and the workup was not reasonable, a Maryland case may be possible.
A ruptured appendix due to misdiagnosis can lead to severe infection, longer hospitalization, additional procedures, and long-term complications. The more serious the preventable harm, the more significant the damages may be.
Abdominal pain misdiagnosed as gastroenteritis is a common scenario when appendicitis is missed. A claim may focus on whether the provider failed to rule out appendicitis through appropriate exam, testing, or follow-up instructions as symptoms progressed.
It can. When symptoms and exam findings raise concern, a CT scan not ordered for suspected appendicitis may be an issue if a reasonable provider would have ordered imaging or taken other steps to confirm or rule out appendicitis.
Misread imaging or lab results (appendicitis) can contribute to a missed diagnosis. These cases often focus on whether the results were interpreted reasonably and whether the team followed up on findings that should have triggered urgent action.
Discharge from ER with ongoing right lower quadrant pain can be a red flag, especially if symptoms persisted or worsened soon after. A claim may involve whether discharge instructions, follow-up planning, or return precautions were appropriate for suspected appendicitis.
A medical expert review of the standard of care (Maryland) helps clarify what a reasonable provider would have done with the symptoms presented. It can also connect how the missed or delayed diagnosis likely caused additional injury, complications, or extended recovery.
Where You Can Find Our Baltimore Office:
Phil Federico is a partner at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico where he helps lead the Mass Tort / Class Action and Environmental Law practices, transitioning into these areas after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator.
Phil has led and been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigation with verdicts and settlements exceeding one billion dollars.
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