Experienced Lawyers for Failure to Diagnose a Heart Attack
Serving all of Indianapolis
Healthcare professionals are relied upon to recognize symptoms of illness in patients, act to help prevent serious complications, and respond to patients in an emergency. When a physician or other medical professional fails to properly diagnose or act to prevent or treat a medical condition, the results can be life-threatening for a patient.
Myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to part of the heart is blocked long enough for the heart muscle to become damaged or a part of the heart muscle dies.
The primary way that blood flow is blocked to the heart occurs when the arteries around the heart become blocked, whether by plaque buildup or by a blood clot. When oxygen-carrying blood is prevented from being delivered to the heart, a heart attack occurs.
A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system of the heart malfunctions and the heart stops pumping blood to the body. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is disrupted, but the heart is still pumping.
There are many signs that a heart attack may be imminent. Shortness of breath, chest pains, chest pains radiating to the arms, pain or discomfort in the jaw, arms, or neck, and nausea may indicate a heart attack. If any of these symptoms are present in a patient, emergency medical treatment should be sought at once. Calling 911 and getting emergency medical assistance as quickly as possible can be a matter of life or death.
If a myocardial infarction is diagnosed and treated early, a patient can make some minor lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of future incidents. Keeping body weight under control, stopping the use of tobacco products, reducing blood sugar levels, and controlling cholesterol are all effective methods for managing the risk of future cardiac incidents.
Failure to Diagnose Medical Malpractice Claim
A blind physician, who was still practicing medicine, in Southern Indiana failed to diagnose an impending myocardial infarction resulting in the death of a 40-year old mother of four. Case settled for the maximum amount allowed by law.
Indiana Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Medical personnel are trained to recognize symptoms of various ailments so that a proper diagnosis can be given. When a physician or healthcare professional fails to diagnose a condition and fails to provide the proper treatment for a patient, the impact can be significant. The patient may become permanently injured or die. If you or someone you care about suffered a serious injury as a result of a healthcare professional’s failure to diagnose and treat a myocardial infarction or other cardiac condition contact us. Our experienced Indianapolis medical malpractice attorneys have litigated cases originating in Martinsville, Bloomington, Evansville, Lafayette, Carmel, Lake County and all throughout the state of Indiana and can discuss your Indiana medical malpractice claim with you and inform you of your legal rights and options.
There is no fee for your initial consultation and we do not collect fees until your claim is paid. Cohen & Malad, LLP has earned a well-respected reputation as a tough litigation firm in the courtroom and during negotiations and can bring Power to Your Voice.
