Los infartos y otras afecciones cardiacas son la principal causa de muerte en Estados Unidos. Las afecciones cardiacas son responsables de hasta una de cada cinco muertes al año.
Por término medio, alguien en Estados Unidos sufre un infarto cada cuarenta segundos. Los adultos de 65 años o más son los más susceptibles de sufrir un infarto.
With heart attacks being so common, medical professionals should know what to look for to get patients the help they need immediately. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and as a result, patients can suffer devastating consequences because a healthcare provider failed to diagnose a heart attack.
Un diagnóstico erróneo de ataque al corazón puede provocar lesiones que cambian la vida e incluso la muerte. Por si fuera poco, los médicos pueden evitar muchos diagnósticos erróneos de infarto siguiendo las normas de atención adecuadas.
If you believe you or a loved one has experienced a heart attack misdiagnosis, please contact the medical malpractice lawyers at Poulos & Cavazos, LLP today.
Principales conclusiones
- A delayed heart attack diagnosis can lead to permanent heart damage, disability, or death.
- Failing to recognize heart attack symptoms or order proper tests may be a breach of the medical standard of care.
- Victims of heart attack misdiagnosis may recover damages for medical costs, lost wages, and pain.
- Heart attack malpractice claims require legal and medical expertise to prove fault and harm.
Recognizing the Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Timely diagnosis often depends on whether symptoms are recognized and taken seriously by both patients and medical providers. Knowing the full range of heart attack symptoms is essential, not only for your health, but also for understanding when a provider may have failed in their duty of care.
While chest pain is a hallmark sign, it’s not the only one, and not everyone experiences it. Heart attack symptoms may include:
- Pressure, tightness, or burning in the chest;
- Pain that radiates to the arms, jaw, back, or neck;
- Shortness of breath, even without chest pain;
- Cold sweats or lightheadedness;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Sudden fatigue or weakness; and
- A feeling of impending doom or anxiety.
Women, in particular, are more likely to experience “silent” symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or back pain. These can be easy to dismiss, by the patient or the provider, but are just as serious.
When Symptoms Are Missed or Ignored
In some cases, patients describe their symptoms clearly, but doctors fail to connect them to a potential cardiac event. In other cases, providers may fail to ask the right follow-up questions or dismiss symptoms based on the patient’s age, gender, or perceived health status. Regardless of the reason, when a patient suffers harm due to a missed diagnosis, they may have legal grounds for a malpractice claim.
Causes of Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
Despite the prevalence of heart attacks in the U.S., misdiagnoses still occur far too often. In many cases, the error stems from providers failing to follow established diagnostic protocols or misinterpreting a patient’s symptoms. Understanding how a provider failed to diagnose a heart attack is important for anyone evaluating whether they may have a legal claim.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Atypical symptom presentation. Not all heart attacks cause crushing chest pain. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes often experience symptoms like nausea, shortness of breath, or back pain. When these symptoms are subtle or vague, providers may mistakenly attribute them to anxiety, indigestion, or fatigue.
- Failure to order appropriate tests. Standard diagnostic tools, such as an EKG or cardiac enzyme tests, can help detect a heart attack in progress. But if the provider fails to order these tests or delays ordering them, critical time is lost.
- Misinterpretation of test results. Even when diagnostic tests are ordered, doctors may misread EKG findings or miss early signs of cardiac damage in lab results.
- Overcrowded or understaffed emergency departments. In fast-paced ER environments, patients may not receive the thorough evaluation they need, especially if their symptoms don’t appear urgent.
- Lack of specialist consultation. Failing to involve a cardiologist when cardiac concerns are raised can result in a missed diagnosis or delayed intervention.
When these missteps occur, patients can suffer lasting harm that could have been prevented with proper, timely care.
Consecuencias de un diagnóstico erróneo de infarto
The misdiagnosed heart attack can lead to dire consequences. Common injuries that stem from a medical professional’s failure to diagnose a heart attack properly include:
- Permanent brain damage,
- Daño muscular,
- Cicatrización del corazón,
- Insuficiencia cardíaca,
- Problemas en las válvulas del corazón,
- Depresión y ansiedad, y
- Lamuerte.
Estas lesiones pueden dar lugar a elevadas facturas médicas, pérdidas de tiempo en el trabajo y una calidad de vida muy reducida para la víctima. Un diagnóstico adecuado del infarto puede evitar fácilmente muchas de las consecuencias.
¿Puedo demandar a mi médico por un diagnóstico erróneo de un ataque al corazón?
En muchos casos, la respuesta a esta pregunta es sí. Los médicos y otros profesionales de la medicina deben ejercer una estricta norma de cuidado cuando tratan con pacientes. Si no cumplen esta norma de cuidado, usted puede hacerles responsables de los daños resultantes.
A menudo, cuando un profesional sanitario no diagnostica un infarto de miocardio a tiempo y con precisión, no ha cumplido con su deber de diligencia. En estos casos, usted debe ser capaz de recuperar los daños y perjuicios por cualquier lesión que sufra.
Los médicos también pueden ser responsables si el diagnóstico erróneo causa la muerte de un familiar directo.
Legal Steps to Take After a Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
If you suspect that a delayed or missed heart attack diagnosis caused you or your loved one harm, taking the proper steps early on can strengthen your potential legal case.
1. Request Your Medical Records
Start by obtaining copies of all records related to your emergency visit, hospital stay, or any outpatient care you received before or after the misdiagnosis. That includes:
- EKGs and test results,
- Doctor and nurse notes,
- Emergency department records, and
- Follow-up care documentation.
These records are critical to evaluating whether proper testing and care were provided.
2. Write Down What Happened
Memories fade quickly. As soon as you’re able, document the timeline of events, including:
- When symptoms began,
- Who you spoke with,
- What you told them,
- What tests or treatments were (or weren’t) provided, and
- How your condition progressed.
These notes can help fill in gaps that medical records don’t always capture.
3. Talk to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Not every poor outcome is grounds for a lawsuit. But if a doctor failed to follow basic standards of care, such as ordering tests for a patient with known risk factors, there may be a strong case for malpractice. At Poulos & Cavazos, we work closely with medical professionals to help evaluate the specifics of your situation and help determine if malpractice occurred.
4. Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies Without Counsel
After a serious medical error, you may be contacted by hospital representatives or insurance adjusters. Avoid discussing your case or signing anything until you’ve consulted a qualified attorney. You could unintentionally harm your legal claim.
5. Act Quickly
New Mexico has a three-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to file a lawsuit, even if the harm is clear. Contact a firm like Poulos & Cavazos early so that your case is reviewed within the appropriate time window.
Importes de los acuerdos de las demandas por infarto de miocardio
La cuantía de la indemnización que puede recibir tras un diagnóstico erróneo de infarto depende de la gravedad de la lesión y de cómo afecte a su vida. Los daños recuperables habituales tras un diagnóstico erróneo de infarto incluyen:
- Cuidados de larga duración,
- Discapacidad,
- Facturas médicas,
- Pérdida de salarios,
- Rehabilitación física,
- Pérdida de disfrute,
- Dolor y sufrimiento,
- Los gastos de entierro, y
- Pérdida de compañía.
La mayoría de las demandas por negligencia médica acaban en algún tipo de acuerdo. Las indemnizaciones de las aseguradoras por los infartos mal diagnosticados pueden oscilar entre unos pocos miles y varios millones de dólares.
La razón de esta amplia gama es que el nivel de culpabilidad y la gravedad de las lesiones difieren de un caso a otro.
A Las Cruces, NM Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Poulos & Cavazos Can Help
If you or a loved one has suffered from a heart attack misdiagnosis, we can help. Poulos & Cavazos, LLP has a proven track record of delivering for our clients, and we care deeply for each and every client. Contact us online or call us at 575-523-4444 today to learn more about how we can help with your claim.
Victor Poulos, JD
For more than two decades, Victor Poulos has devoted his practice exclusively to representing patients and families harmed by medical negligence. He has handled complex medical malpractice cases involving hospitals, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers, and has taken hundreds of depositions of physicians, nurses, and hospital staff across nearly every medical specialty. Mr. Poulos has successfully tried high-stakes malpractice cases to verdict and is known for his meticulous case preparation and relentless advocacy on behalf of injured patients.
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