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Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack (Part A)

Every year in the United States about 26,000 people are erroneously released from the emergency room after complaining of chest pain.

A heart attack is obviously a serious medical condition - if not diagnosed correctly and/or in a timely manner by a physician or medical professional, it could result in further injury or even death. When a physician fails to diagnose a medical condition that leads to further injury or death, they may be held liable.

If you have been the victim of a physician failing to diagnose a heart attack, or a loved one has died from this failure, then you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Proper Diagnosis of a Heart Attack

A heart attack is typically diagnosed by the symptoms a patient is experiencing. If a treating physician suspects a heart attack, tests should be administered to either confirm or rule it out. In addition, a treating physician may order tests to determine if coronary artery disease is the culprit.

Some of the different types of tests that may be run to determine if a patient is suffering from a heart attack include:

• EKG/ECG (electrocardiogram);
• EBCT (electron beam computerized tomography);
• Echocardiogram;
• Stress test;
• Cardiac enzyme laboratory studies; and
• Angiogram

When symptoms of a heart attack are present and your doctor or medical professional fails to properly diagnose the condition, you may seek to file a medical malpractice claim. A Chicago medical malpractice attorney can advise you of your rights and help you in the process of filling a medical malpractice lawsuit.

How Is a Heart Attack Treated?

A heart attack is treated by restoring the blood supply and reducing the stress on the heart. To successfully do this, time is of the essence. The sooner a heart attack is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome.

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