Heart attacks don’t always happen dramatically like they do on TV. For many patients, the signs are subtle, and too often, they’re missed by medical professionals. When a doctor fails to recognize a heart attack in time, the consequences can be devastating or fatal.
If you or a loved one suffered serious harm because a provider missed heart attack symptoms, you may have legal options. At Poulos & Coates, we are the only New Mexico law firm focused exclusively on medical malpractice. We have the experience and the medical insight to help you determine whether you have a valid claim.
Doctors Can Miss Warning Signs
It’s easy to assume that a heart attack is always evident: sudden chest pain, gasping for breath, and collapsing to the floor. But in reality, many heart attacks present more subtly, and doctors sometimes fail to recognize these symptoms until it’s too late.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 5 heart attacks is silent, meaning the patient experiences no obvious symptoms at the time. Even when symptoms are present, they may be misdiagnosed as indigestion, anxiety, or a muscle strain.
A 2023 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that women, Black patients, and younger individuals were more likely to have their heart attack symptoms dismissed or misdiagnosed in emergency departments. This delay can cost patients their lives.
Common Symptoms Doctors Miss in Heart Attacks
Here are some symptoms doctors miss in heart attacks, especially when they don’t match the “classic” profile:
- Jaw, neck, or back pain. These symptoms are more common in women and are frequently misdiagnosed as dental issues or muscle problems.
- Shortness of breath. When occurring without chest pain, shortness of breath is often dismissed as asthma, anxiety, or a panic attack.
- Nausea or vomiting. Some heart attack patients present with what looks like a stomach bug or food poisoning. Without a thorough cardiac workup, doctors can easily miss the real cause.
- Fatigue or dizziness. These symptoms can signal an early or ongoing cardiac event, but are frequently attributed to stress or dehydration.
- Mild chest discomfort. Not all chest pain is sharp or crushing. A feeling of pressure, fullness, or tightness can indicate a heart attack, but might be minimized by both the patient and the provider.
When medical professionals brush off these warning signs, patients may be sent home without appropriate testing, monitoring, or treatment. This can result in:
- Cardiac arrest,
- Permanent heart damage,
- Brain injury from lack of oxygen, or
- Death
In many cases, these outcomes could have been prevented if the provider had taken the symptoms seriously and ordered the correct tests, such as an EKG, troponin levels, or imaging.
What to Watch for If You’ve Been Sent Home
If you or a loved one was discharged from an ER or clinic and later diagnosed with a heart attack, pay close attention to the following red flags that could indicate improper care:
- You being given basic diagnostic tests like an EKG or blood tests,
- A doctor dismissing concerns as stress or indigestion,
- Symptoms worsening after your visit, or
- Being told “you’re too young” or “too healthy” for a heart issue.
Document everything, including your symptoms, conversations with providers, and any follow-up care. This information can be crucial in determining if you have a malpractice claim.
What Legal Options Do You Have?
In New Mexico, medical malpractice claims are governed by the New Mexico Medical Malpractice Act, which sets out procedures and limitations on claims. To file a lawsuit, you generally need to show:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed,
- The doctor failed to meet the standard of care (i.e., missed or misdiagnosed symptoms), and
- That failure caused you harm.
One important deadline to know is the statute of limitations. In most cases, you have three years from the date of the malpractice to file a claim. However, there are exceptions for minors or delayed discovery, so it’s essential to speak with an attorney promptly.
Why Choose Poulos & Coates?
When facing a complex case involving missed heart attack symptoms, you need a legal team that understands both medicine and the law. At Poulos & Coates:
- We are the only New Mexico law firm dedicated solely to medical malpractice;
- We have over 100 years of combined experience fighting for victims of medical negligence;
- Our team includes a licensed medical doctor and two nurses, giving us a clear advantage when evaluating and preparing your case; and
- We have recovered over half a billion dollars for our clients.
When we take your case, we bring trial-ready experience and medical insight to the courtroom. We’ll investigate what went wrong, consult with medical experts, and fight to hold negligent providers accountable. We can help you determine what to do if you suspect heart attack misdiagnosis, but your first step is to call us.
How to Know If You Have a Case
Not every missed diagnosis results in a valid lawsuit. But if you experienced any of the following, you should speak with us:
- You were turned away from the ER or clinic and had a heart attack within days,
- A loved one died unexpectedly after being misdiagnosed with something less serious, or
- The medical team failed to order cardiac tests despite symptoms.
At Poulos & Coates, we offer free consultations and will carefully review your medical records to determine whether you have a claim. We know what to watch for because this is all we do.
Let’s Talk
If your life, or your loved one’s, was forever changed because a doctor missed heart attack symptoms, you deserve answers. More importantly, you deserve justice.
Let our team at Poulos & Coates investigate what went wrong and fight for the compensation you deserve. We understand how painful this process can be and are here to make it as clear and straightforward as possible.
Contact us today or call at 575-523-4444 to schedule your free consultation. We’ll give you an honest opinion about your case and begin mapping out a path to recovery.
Greig Coates, M.D., J.D.
Over the last thirty years, Dr. Coates has successfully represented plaintiffs in every conceivable type of medical malpractice lawsuit–from single-physician cases to complex litigation involving over a dozen doctors and several hospitals. Dr. Coates has taken several thousand physician depositions in his career involving every known physician specialty and sub-specialty, and almost as many depositions involving hospital personnel such as nurses, techs, and administrators. He has tried several dozen cases to successful verdicts.
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