Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes occur annually in the United States. Research indicates that roughly 11,000 of the deaths from these heart events could be attributed to misdiagnosed heart attacks. The bottom line is that failure to diagnose a heart attack promptly can have severe consequences, including preventable deaths, that lead to medical malpractice claims.
If you or a loved one was injured due to heart attack misdiagnosis, contact an experienced local medical malpractice provider to discuss your legal rights.
Why Are Heart Attacks Misdiagnosed?
While the signs of heart attacks, such as chest pain, left shoulder and jaw pain, neck discomfort, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, cold sweats, and nausea, are widely recognized, research shows that one out of every 50 instances of cardiac arrest goes undiagnosed! This statistic is alarming, particularly considering that nearly half of individuals experiencing cardiac arrest in the United States each year die from it.
Medical malpractice lawsuits may be brought for negligent failure to diagnose a heart attack in a timely and accurate manner. But why does it happen?
Heart attacks can be misdiagnosed for various reasons. Here are some common reasons why heart attacks might be misdiagnosed:
- Atypical symptoms. While chest pain is a classic symptom of a heart attack, some individuals, particularly women, may experience atypical symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, or jaw pain. The absence of classic symptoms can lead to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
- Variability in symptoms. The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person and even from one episode to another. This variability makes it challenging for healthcare providers to recognize a heart attack based solely on symptoms.
- Misinterpretation of symptoms. Sometimes, healthcare providers may misinterpret the symptoms or attribute them to other less severe conditions, leading to a failure to consider the possibility of a heart attack.
- Patient profile and medical history. Individuals with preexisting conditions or atypical risk factors may not fit the stereotypical profile of a heart attack patient. This can lead to healthcare professionals overlooking the possibility of a heart attack in these cases.
- Diagnostic tests. The accuracy of diagnostic tests can also play a role. False negatives or inconclusive results from tests like electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs) or blood tests may contribute to a misdiagnosis.
- Communication issues. In some cases, breakdowns in communication between healthcare providers or inadequate sharing of patient information can lead to missed opportunities for an accurate diagnosis.
- Underestimating risk factors. Patients with seemingly low risk factors for heart attacks may not be considered as potential cases. This underestimation can lead to overlooking critical symptoms and delaying diagnosis.
- Stress and time constraints. Healthcare professionals often work under stressful conditions and tight schedules. This environment may contribute to oversight or rushed assessments, increasing the likelihood of misdiagnosis.
- Lack of awareness or training. Some healthcare providers may not be adequately trained or updated on the latest guidelines and research related to heart attack symptoms and diagnostics, leading to potential misjudgments.
- Gender disparities: Women, in particular, might face challenges as their symptoms can be less typical, and there has historically been a knowledge gap regarding heart disease in women. This can result in delayed or missed diagnoses for female patients.
Consequences for Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack
When a patient doesn’t get a quick and accurate diagnosis, it can have serious consequences. Research has shown that if a heart attack diagnosis is delayed or missed, it can lead to bad outcomes, even death. One study found that the risk of dying from a heart attack is almost twice as high if it’s not diagnosed correctly.
In addition, patients who don’t get a heart attack diagnosis or who experience delays in diagnosis often face more complications compared to those who are correctly diagnosed. According to a study, almost three-quarters of heart attack patients had to be readmitted after being misdiagnosed. In contrast, the rate for patients who were correctly diagnosed and admitted for treatment was only 17%.
How to Know if a Medical Professional Was Negligent in Diagnosing Heart Attack
Medical professionals have a duty to perform tests on hospitalized patients to determine if they went into cardiac arrest. Sometimes, medical professionals ignore warning signs or do not spend enough time with patients to notice symptoms. If a doctor or medical team misdiagnoses a heart attack, they could be guilty of malpractice.
To determine if the misdiagnosis is malpractice, a medical malpractice lawyer will need to look at the doctor’s information and the exam results. A simple examination of medical records may reveal common symptoms of a heart attack but the records must also show common clear signs of a heart attack, and possibly other factors such as any family history of heart disease. A medical expert can help determine whether the required tests were done correctly, if the doctor asked all relevant questions, and whether the patient was examined properly. These are just a few of a list of facts that will need to be reviewed in order to determine whether a medical professional was negligent.
Seek the help of a medical malpractice lawyer
If you were injured because of medical negligence or lost a loved one due to a preventable medical error, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced medical malpractice attorney fight for justice on your behalf. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a medical negligence lawyer. Call the most experienced practicing medical malpractice attorneys Bellingham has at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing people injured by medical negligence in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
