This story emphasizes how you have to learn to be assertive with physicians and make sure you tell the story exactly as it is with as much emphasis as needed.
This is a very disheartening situation and unfortunately happens more than it probably should. It was on the front page of USA Today and I felt I had to talk about it. Interestingly it was one of three most emailed articles from the Web page today.
Misdiagnoses do occur. But if the doctor works very hard at getting an accurate history (and the patient works very hard to help the doctor), the index of suspicion should be raised high enough to help avoid some of these events.
Do NOT minimize your symptoms just because you may feel better lying in the bed or because you're scared or humiliated lying there in the bed with everyone staring down at you.
Listen here and comment if you wish. Blessings to this family in their time of sorrow.