When we are sick, we visit a doctor trusting that he or she will properly diagnose what is wrong so that we can get better, not worse. But all too often, failure to diagnose an illness or disease causes serious injuries in unsuspecting patients.

Take the case of the 7-year-old boy who lost his vision and nearly lost his life after his doctor allegedly missed signs of bacterial meningitis. In the wake of the tragedy, the boy's family has brought a medical malpractice suit against the doctor for damages.

According to court papers, the boy's parents brought him to the hospital and his pediatrician diagnosed his symptoms as an ear infection. When the boy's condition didn't improve, his parents reportedly called the doctor's office and were told that there was "nothing they could do" because he was "just there."

The boy's attorney said that the pediatrician missed a serious red flag: a severe headache. He said that this is a symptom of bacterial meningitis, a deadly bacterial infection that causes membranes covering the brain and spinal cord to inflame.

The next day, the boy was found unconscious and was rushed to the hospital, where he spent weeks in a coma. Doctors there determined that the boy had bacterial meningitis, which is critical to be diagnosed and treated immediately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thankfully, the boy survived, but not without a fight and serious injuries. The lawsuit states that the boy suffered systemic bacterial infection, fever, respiratory failure, impaired speech, impaired hearing, seizures and brain damage resulting from the illness.

Because of these injuries, the boy had to learn to talk, eat and walk all over again, according to the complaint. Hopefully, the personal injury lawsuit will help compensate the boy and his family for what they have been through.

Source: Hartford Courant, "Lawsuit Charges That Tolland Boy Lost His Eyesight After Doctor Failed To Diagnose Meningitis," Denise Buffa, Jan. 17, 2012