The right to sue for non-communication or delay in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Delay in diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases can be caused by clinical factors such as the lack of recognition of symptomatology as attributable to the disease or confusion of symptoms with those from other conditions. A number of studies have shown that psychiatric symptoms may precede motor symptoms and the ultimate diagnosis, in substantial part because they may mirror symptoms arising from other aetiologies. Any delay in diagnosis of relatives with neurodegenerative diseases and failure to communicate such a diagnosis can have very significant adverse effects for provision of treatment and for decisions made which can result in the passing on of the disease. In turn such decisions ma..