Medical Malpractice Heart Attack
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States. However, many are preventable with timely diagnosis and treatment. Sadly, thousands of heart attacks are missed by medical professionals or improperly diagnosed. Not all heart attacks are survivable.
However, the failure to diagnose a heart attack or a delay is a factor in about 10,000 cases a year.
Contrary to common belief, the symptoms of a heart attack are not obvious each time. Rather than extreme chest pain, the patient suffers diverse symptoms that can be confused with something else.
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Heart attacks are often missed for the following reasons:
- Incorrect Diagnosis
Minor heart attack symptoms often mimic other health conditions like heartburn, acid reflux, or even anxiety attacks. A medical professional may not realize you are having a heart attack.
- Few Symptoms
Heart attacks can also have minimal symptoms such as nausea, fatigue or shakiness.
- Normal EKG Readings
Heart attacks are measured with electrocardiograms (EKGs). Although EKGs are usually reliable, they can be inaccurate at times. In spite of this, doctors rely heavily upon them when deciding if cardiac arrest has occurred.
- Patient Stereotypes
Older, overweight men with a history of hypertension, high cholesterol or past heart disease are more likely to suffer a heart attack. Unfortunately, medical professionals can overlook signs of a cardiac arrest in those who don’t fit this demographic profile, including younger women. Statistics show women die of heart attacks just as often as men.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
A wide range of medical professionals can be sued for medical malpractice over heart attack misdiagnosis, treatment delays that led to a patient’s death or other serious complications. This includes:
- ER doctors
- Consulting physicians
- Triage nurses
- Interns and medical students
- Cardiologists and other specialists
- Hospitals and other medical facilities
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