Tips To Avoiding A Misdiagnosis

BOSTON (CBS) - Boston-based organization Best Doctors says in its mission statement that in today's health care maze, patients must be educated about their health and act as their own best advocate, particularly when it comes to being misdiagnosed.

Best Doctors recently ran an opinion piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Five steps patients can take to prevent a misdiagnosis."

Since at least 20% of the cases we see come to us having been misdiagnosed, and our experts wind up making treatment corrections or changes in 60% of our cases, we believe we're correct when we say misdiagnosis is a public health crisis – not only here in the U.S., but worldwide.

There are steps patient can take, though, to avoid being misdiagnosed.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Diane Stern reports.