Few medical emergencies are as time-sensitive and life-threatening as a heart attack. Patients trust medical professionals to recognize and respond to critical concerns promptly, but sadly, it is not uncommon for healthcare providers to disregard or dismiss the signs of a heart attack. Such negligence can cause irreversible harm, including permanent heart damage or even death, and in many instances, constitutes grounds for pursuing medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one were hurt by a doctor’s failure to diagnose a heart attack, you may be owed damages, and you should talk to an attorney. The skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group are dedicated to advocating for those injured by medical negligence, and if you engage our services, we will help you seek the justice you deserve.
The failure to diagnose a heart attack occurs when a medical professional does not recognize the symptoms of a cardiac event, misinterprets test results, or fails to order necessary diagnostic tests. Symptoms of a heart attack can vary, but common signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and pain in the arms or jaw. Because these symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for less serious conditions, such as indigestion or anxiety, physicians must be diligent when evaluating patients who present with these complaints.
When a heart attack goes undiagnosed, the damage to the heart muscle can become extensive, leading to severe complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death. Delayed or missed diagnoses can result in a patient’s condition deteriorating rapidly, reducing their chances of survival and increasing the likelihood of long-term disability.
The failure to diagnose a heart attack can lead to devastating and life-altering injuries that cause physical, emotional, and economic harm. Many people hurt by such oversights will seek redress for their losses via medical malpractice claims.
To recover damages for failing to diagnose a heart attack, a plaintiff usually must establish that the healthcare provider acted negligently. In Maryland, a plaintiff alleging a negligence claim in a medical malpractice case must first demonstrate that the defendant owed them a duty of care. This duty arises from the doctor-patient relationship and requires medical professionals to provide treatment that meets the accepted standard of care, which is defined by what a competent professional in the same practice area would do when faced with a similar set of facts.
Next, the plaintiff must show that the provider breached this duty by failing to meet the standard of care. A breach can occur if a doctor dismisses a patient’s symptoms, fails to order appropriate tests, misinterprets test results, or does not refer the patient for urgent cardiac care.
Expert testimony is often crucial in these cases, as medical experts can help establish what a competent physician would have done under similar circumstances and how the defendant’s actions fell short. Finally, the plaintiff has to prove that the defendant’s breach directly resulted in the plaintiff’s harm, which typically requires expert testimony as well.
Victims of medical malpractice, including those harmed by a failure to diagnose a heart attack, may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include tangible financial losses, such as medical bills for additional treatment, rehabilitation costs, and lost income due to an inability to work. If the victim suffers long-term disability, they may also recover damages for diminished earning capacity and future medical expenses. Non-economic damages address the physical and emotional suffering caused by the malpractice. This can include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship for families who lose a loved one.
If you or a loved one suffered losses due to a missed heart attack diagnosis, you may be entitled to damages for failure to diagnose a heart attack, and you should talk to a lawyer. The knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group have extensive experience handling complex medical malpractice claims, and if you hire us, we will work tirelessly to hold the negligent healthcare providers who caused your harm accountable. Our firm is located in Baltimore, and we represent clients throughout the area. To discuss your case in a free and confidential consultation, contact us online or call us at 410-889-1850.
