Maryland Heart Attack Errors Lawyer
You feel a sudden onslaught of chest pain. You’re scared. You’ve never felt anything like this before. You immediately think you’re having a heart attack.
But are you really? Despite chest pain being the telltale sign of a heart attack, as many as 8% of people are discharged from the hospital with a different diagnosis. Heart attacks are considered the most misdiagnosed condition, and such a mistake can be deadly. If a patient survives an undiagnosed heart attack, they are more likely to develop more complications due to the delay in treatment.
Missed diagnosis of a heart attack is one of the top reasons for medical malpractice claims against emergency room physicians. Have you been affected? If so, the Maryland heart attack errors lawyer at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help you with your case.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Most heart attacks start off with mild pain or discomfort. Often, people wait too long before getting help. A heart attack can cause a variety of symptoms such as:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Palpitations, such as a rapid heartbeat or your heart skipping a beat
- Difficult breathing
- Discomfort in the arms, stomach, back, neck, or jaw
- Breaking out in cold sweat
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for going to the emergency room. However,
not all heart attacks cause chest pain, and chest pain can be caused by medical conditions that have nothing to do with the heart.
In fact, there are dozens of causes of chest pain, including:
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Angina
- Gallstones
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Musculoskeletal conditions
Many symptoms of a heart attack can mimic other conditions, leading to a misdiagnosis. A medical provider can diagnose a heart attack based on the result of assessments such as:
- The patient’s medical history
- A physical examination
- An electrocardiogram to discover any damage to the heart
- Blood tests to detect abnormal levels of enzymes
Causes of Misdiagnosis
There are several reasons why heart attack errors occur:
- Lack of staffing. When a hospital’s emergency department is understaffed or overrun with patients, there is less time to spend with patients. A patient who is clearly showing signs of a heart attack may be assessed too quickly and diagnosed with something less serious.
- Lack of experience. Inexperienced medical staff may not be skilled at determining the signs of a heart attack, especially in younger patients.
- Lack of testing. It is possible for medical staff to not fully evaluate the patient and fail to perform certain tests such as an EKG. It is common for providers to misread tests, which can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Contact Us Today
A heart attack is a serious medical issue that can lead to death. When a doctor makes heart attack errors, the effects on the patient can be devastating and even fatal.
Failure to diagnose a heart attack is often due to an emergency room doctor’s negligence. Do you have a claim? If so, the personal injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can fight for your legal rights so you get the compensation you deserve. Call our office at (410) 567-0800 to schedule a free consultation.
