What is a 'missed diagnosis'?

• A. Immediate diagnosis with no error
• B. Overlooking or misinterpreting a patient's condition
• C. Diagnosing a condition earlier than symptoms
• D. Diagnosing a condition based on random guess

Answer: (B)

A missed diagnosis happens when a clinician fails to recognize a condition that is present or reads the patient’s signs incorrectly, so no diagnosis is made or the diagnosis given is wrong. This reflects a lapse in the clinician’s duty to identify health problems and start appropriate treatment in a timely way. It can happen due to cognitive biases (like premature closure or anchoring), atypical symptom presentation, incomplete information, or communication gaps, and it can lead to delayed care, progression of disease, or worse outcomes. It’s not about diagnosing right away without error, nor about making a diagnosis earlier than symptoms, and it isn’t simply guessing without evidence. Overlooking or misinterpreting a patient’s condition captures the essence of a missed diagnosis.