Why do people get misdiagnosed a lot with Bells Palsy, when instead it's something more serious?

You are minimizing the severity and suffering of people with this terrible affliction.  My best friend died from Bells Palsy in 2018.  I'm sure that on his death bed he was glad he didn't have something "more serious."

There are a very specific maneuver to diagnose Bell’s palsy from a stroke. Any uncertainty would trigger imaging studies.

Bell's palsy is a blocked facial nerve. A stroke can cause a blot clot in the brain and also facially paralyze someone or make them drop. It mimics the symptoms, without a brain scan you could mistake one for the other.

I know several people who have had Bell's Palsy.  I've never heard of anyone being misdiagnosed with it.

Do they though often misdiagnose it though Florine? Do you have any stats for this assertion you make or are you basing this on anecdotal evidence? I had a Bells Palsy, was misdiagnosed in Emergency, but quickly identified when I was referred to a specialist. Was gone in 2 weeks after that. 

I've had Bells Palsy, my doc had no trouble diagnosing it, and both giving me the right prescription and setting me up to see a specialist to confirm both the diagnosis and the treatment.

I made a full recovery, and my total out of pocket costs were about $25.