Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Lawyer

Heart disease is a serious problem in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer heart attacks yearly. Sadly, many heart attacks go undiagnosed. Patients who do not receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment after a heart attack can suffer life-threatening consequences. In the most tragic of cases, undiagnosed heart attacks can be deadly. 

If you suffered needlessly because your provider failed to properly diagnose a heart attack, you deserve compensation for all the losses you have incurred as a result. These losses could include extra medical bills, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.

At the Serious Injury Law Group, our Alabama medical malpractice lawyers have the resources and experience to help you seek compensation after a heart attack misdiagnosis. Contact our attorneys today to discuss your case and explore your options in a free initial case review.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Like the symptoms of many other health conditions, the warning signs of a heart attack can vary considerably from patient to patient. Moreover, many heart attack warning signs are also indicators of other common conditions, which is why misdiagnoses are so prevalent. 

Some of the most common warning signs of heart attacks include:

• Pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that continues for several minutes or recedes and then returns
• Pain that feels like uncomfortable pressure, tightness, fullness, or compression
• Pain that radiates through the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or abdomen
• Abnormal heartbeat or feelings of heartburn or indigestion
• Feelings of weakness, lightheadedness, nausea, dizziness, or faintness
• Shortness of breath that accompanies or precedes chest discomfort
• Intense feelings of anxiety, sometimes accompanied by cold sweats

Notably, female patients have a higher risk of heart attack misdiagnosis because they often present atypical symptoms that some doctors do not recognize. Common non-traditional heart attack symptoms among women include sleep disturbances, gastric pain, and feelings of heaviness in the arms.

How to Diagnose a Heart Attack

When doctors and triage nurses suspect a patient may be having a heart attack, they might order one or several of the following types of diagnostic tests:

• Electrocardiograms – An electrocardiogram (ECG) records and displays electrical signals in the body that correspond with the heart’s activity.
• Echocardiograms – An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create diagnostic images showing the movement of the heart and blood.
• Blood tests – Doctors use blood tests to check for the presence of certain proteins in the bloodstream that are indicative of heart attack damage.
• Chest x-rays – A chest x-ray can show providers the heart’s size and condition.
• Angiograms – An angiogram or coronary catheterization involves inserting a thin tube into an artery and guiding it toward the heart, then releasing dye that flows through the arteries and makes them stand out on diagnostic images.
• Cardiac CTs or MRIs – A cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan uses x-rays to create images of the heart inside the chest. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to do the same thing.

Common Mistakes in Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Cases

A medical provider’s professional mistakes can significantly impact patient health. Common provider errors that result in heart attack misdiagnosis cases include:

• Incorrectly assuming that heart attack symptoms are signs of another condition, such as heartburn or generalized anxiety
• Failing to recognize heart attack signs in women, who often present differently
• Failing to order necessary tests or follow-ups because patients seem healthy
• Failing or refusing to consider the possibility of heart attacks in younger patients
• Misreading diagnostic results from ECGs, MRIs, blood tests, or other lab tests
• Failing to order necessary treatments or diagnostic methods in a timely manner
• Failing or refusing to consult cardiac health specialists promptly
• Failing to communicate or document a patient’s condition to others

Physicians commonly misdiagnose heart attacks as other health conditions like:

• Acid reflux
• Angina
• Anxiety
• Bronchitis
• Esophagitis
• Gallstones
• Heartburn
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Panic attacks
• Pneumonia

What Are the Potential Results of a Heart Attack Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis?

Medical professionals must provide treatment within an hour to minimize potential health issues when a patient exhibits heart attack symptoms. Tragically, providers misdiagnose far too many heart attacks every year, leaving patients susceptible to life-threatening complications.

Common health complications that arise due to heart attack misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis include:

• Arrhythmia – An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Heart attacks can change how electrical impulses move through the heart, affecting how it pumps blood.
• Cardiogenic shock – Cardiogenic or cardiac shock occurs when the heart loses the ability to pump enough oxygenated blood through the body.
• Heart failure – Heart failure is a gradual weakening of the heart’s ability to pump enough blood throughout the body, increasing blood pressure and fluid retention.
• Inflammation – Inflammation can occur when a heart attack triggers a response from the immune system surrounding the heart.
• Cardiac arrest – Cardiac arrest occurs when sudden changes in the heart’s electrical impulses cause it to stop beating without warning.

How Are the Damages Calculated in a Misdiagnosed Heart Attack Lawsuit?

If your health and financial stability were affected by a heart attack diagnosis in Alabama, you could demand compensation for your losses through a medical malpractice claim. Every case is different, and the value of one case may vary significantly from the value of another case. The types of compensation you could potentially receive for your claim might include the following:

• Past and future medical expenses you would not have incurred if your provider had diagnosed your heart attack properly and promptly
• Incidental costs of rehabilitation, such as the costs of in-home healthcare assistance, home accessibility modifications, and physical therapy
• Losses in household income from the time you miss at work during your recovery
• Losses in your lifetime earning capacity if you suffer permanent impairments
• Your pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life

An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can explain the potential compensation you may be able to recover from a heart attack misdiagnosis lawsuit.

Consult with a Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Attorney

The heart attack misdiagnosis lawyers at Serious Injury Law Group can listen to your story and take immediate action on your behalf. If you or someone close to you has received a heart attack misdiagnosis, contact our firm for your free initial consultation.