Every minute counts when a patient is suffering from a heart attack, yet too often, doctors and emergency personnel dismiss telltale symptoms as benign conditions like acid reflux, anxiety, or muscle strain. The misdiagnosis of heart attack is one of the most alarming and dangerous failures that can occur in modern medicine. The consequences of such a critical oversight can be life-altering or fatal, leaving victims with irreversible cardiac damage or families mourning the sudden loss of a loved one. In many instances, such mistakes constitute medical malpractice as well. If you want to understand your rights following misdiagnosis of heart attack, it is smart to talk to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers understand the profound impact that the misdiagnosis of heart attack can have on your life, and if you engage our services, we will fight to help you seek fair compensation for your losses.
The misdiagnosis of heart attack poses grave risks to a patient’s life and well-being, as prompt recognition and treatment are critical to preventing severe complications or death. Heart attacks occur when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen and causing tissue damage. When healthcare providers fail to identify or properly treat a heart attack, the patient may suffer from catastrophic harm such as irreversible cardiac damage, heart failure, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac arrest.
Often, symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, radiating pain to the arm or jaw, and sweating are overlooked or minimized by medical staff, especially in women, younger patients, and individuals with atypical presentations. The result is frequently a missed opportunity to administer life-saving treatments such as clot-busting drugs, angioplasty, or surgical interventions within the critical window of time necessary to minimize heart damage. Survivors of a misdiagnosed heart attack often face diminished quality of life, enduring chronic pain, disability, and a heightened risk of future cardiac events.
Patients harmed by the misdiagnosis of heart attack have the right to pursue medical malpractice claims against the providers responsible for their harm. Typically, prevailing in a medical malpractice case requires the plaintiff to establish the defendant’s negligence. Under Maryland law, to establish negligence, the plaintiff must show that the defendant owed them a duty of care. This duty mandates that medical professionals adhere to the accepted standard of care that a reasonably competent provider would follow under similar circumstances. Next, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant breached this duty by failing to properly diagnose or respond to the signs of a heart attack, deviating from the standard of care expected of them.
The third element, causation, requires proof that the provider’s breach directly caused or significantly contributed to the patient’s injury or worsened condition. This is typically the most challenging component of a malpractice case, and often requires the testimony of medical experts who can establish a clear link between the defendant’s negligence and the adverse outcome.
In the context of the misdiagnosis of heart attack, an expert might explain how a timely diagnosis and intervention would have likely prevented permanent heart damage or death. Finally, the plaintiff must prove they suffered actual injuries due to the defendant’s breach.
A plaintiff who demonstrates the defendant’s fault may recover damages for their economic losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages like physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life. In fatal cases, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims to recover damages for funeral costs and loss of companionship.
The misdiagnosis of heart attack can cause lasting physical, emotional, and financial harm to victims and their families. If you were injured due to a doctor’s careless oversights, it is important to understand your rights, and you should talk to a lawyer. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate and effective representation to clients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors, and if we represent you, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we represent people in medical malpractice cases throughout the city. To learn more about how we can help, contact us at 410-889-1850 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation.
