Disclosing a Misdiagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis: Do No Harm?
Abstract
The difficulty of diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) has been well documented. However, recent data also suggests that neurologists frequently encounter the clinical challenge of having to undo a misdiagnosis of MS. Undiagnosing MS has important clinical, psychosocial, and economic consequences for the patient, the treating neurologist, and the healthcare system at large. This article presents a case of misdiagnosed MS and discusses ethical challenges and obligations for the neurologist.
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Misdiagnosis of MS or FND causes harm to patients, most generally in the form of a delay to diagnosis and initiation of proper treatment.
“Misdiagnosis of MS or FND causes harm to patients, most generally in the form of a delay to diagnosis and initiation of proper treatment.”
From Functional neurological disorder and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of misdiagnosis and clinical overlap (2022) · cites this paper as [4]
Misdiagnosis can cause psychological harm in patients if they partially shape their identity around a diagnosis of MS or FND that they are later informed is incorrect.
“Misdiagnosis can also cause psychological harm in patients if they partially shape their identity around a diagnosis of MS or FND that they are later informed is incorrect [4, 5].”
From Functional neurological disorder and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of misdiagnosis and clinical overlap (2022) · cites this paper as [4]
Patients can shape their identity around their diagnosis, and it is difficult for neurologists to remove a diagnosis of MS without concern of causing yet more harm to the patient.
“Patients can shape their identity around their diagnosis, and it is difficult for neurologists to remove a diagnosis of MS without concern of causing yet more harm to the patient [4, 5].”
From Functional neurological disorder and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of misdiagnosis and clinical overlap (2022) · cites this paper as [4]
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The contemporary spectrum of multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis
Solomon, A. J., Bourdette, D. N., Cross, A. H., Applebee, A., Skidd, P. M., Howard, D. B., Spain, R. I., Cameron, M. H., Kim, E., Mass, M. K., et al. (2016) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000003152 · Cited by 334 · see citing works
Self-citationWalzl, D., Solomon, A. J., & Stone, J. (2022) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-021-10436-6 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Solomon, A. J., & Klein, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Vermont (US)
- Venue
- Continuum
- Published
- 2013-08
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1087-1091
- ISSN
- 1080-2371 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-6899
- OpenAlex
- W2023285409
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Medical Case Reports and Studies
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, misdiagnosis, diagnostic errors, psychosocial consequences, economic impact
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Conversion Disorder, Diagnostic Errors, Female, Humans, Migraine Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Smoking, Truth Disclosure
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