A heart attack can be terrifying and intensely painful – or it can feel similar to an illness with debilitating symptoms that you see a doctor to alleviate. No matter what a heart attack feels like, it can be survivable and even leave patients with minimal complications when caught in time. Unfortunately, patients suffering from heart attacks are frequently sent home with a less serious diagnosis and suffer severe consequences.
Symptoms of a heart attack are not always severe, but prolonged lack of blood flow to the heart can cause serious and irreversible consequences. A misdiagnosed heart attack can lead to long-term health issues or even death. If you have suffered serious health complications due to a misdiagnosed heart attack or lost a loved one because of a misdiagnosis, a Philadelphia heart attack malpractice lawyer from Marrone Law Firm, LLC can help. Our trusted medical malpractice attorneys could review the details of your case, help you gather evidence to support your claim, and fight aggressively for the justice you deserve.
Most people imagine a heart attack will cause excruciating chest pain, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. Sometimes it does, but heart attack symptoms can vary widely. Even more concerning, the symptoms are often similar to those caused by other medical conditions. Symptoms of a heart attack can be those you would expect, like chest pain, erratic heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. Heart attacks can also cause unexpected symptoms, like arm or shoulder pain, neck or jaw pain, cold sweats, chills, nausea, or fatigue. You could experience one or many of these symptoms, making your condition more challenging to diagnose.
A combination of less severe symptoms often mimics conditions like gastric reflux or respiratory diseases. When doctors make a hasty diagnosis based on their experience rather than their medical education, live-saving lab work or scans are not initiated, and the heart attack goes unrecognized. A Philly lawyer could use this as evidence in a heart attack malpractice claim.
As a Philadelphia lawyer could further explain, failure to test for a heart attack can lead to misdiagnosis that delays treatment, leading to lasting complications or loss of life. Dangers related to a misdiagnosed heart attack may include one or more of the following consequences.
Medical professionals have a duty to listen to a patient’s complaints and complete adequate testing to provide a timely diagnosis. Even if a heart attack seems unlikely, doctors have a duty of care to order appropriate tests when one or more heart attack symptoms are present. When a doctor fails to complete testing to rule out a heart attack, and a patient suffers injuries or death because of this misdiagnosis, the physician opens themselves up to a medical malpractice suit.
If you have suffered consequences because of a misdiagnosed heart attack or lost a loved one due to a heart attack misdiagnosis, you have the right to pursue compensation from liable parties. This negligence typically leads to costly medical treatments and ongoing health conditions. You may not be able to continue the work you are accustomed to and you may even have to change your lifestyle. A settlement award can help you cover medical costs, lost wages, and funeral and burial costs in the event of a wrongful death.
We can help you reduce the stress related to this event and the costs it brings. Contact the skilled Philadelphia heart attack malpractice lawyers at Marrone Law Firm, LLC to set up a personal injury case review.