Baltimore Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack Lawyer
Any time someone visits the emergency room, they are already worried that there is something seriously wrong with their health. When someone is experiencing chest pain and other symptoms of a heart attack, those fears are exponential. Most of the time, the healthcare professionals working in emergency rooms do a great job of diagnosing certain conditions and providing patients with proper treatment. If a doctor has failed to diagnose your heart condition, or that of someone you love, our Baltimore failure to diagnose heart attack lawyers are here to help.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The staff in emergency rooms are often overworked, exhausted, and things in an emergency room happen very quickly. Physicians may not always fully listen to a patient’s complaint, or they may make a mistake or otherwise act negligently when assessing the situation. This can result in a doctor failing to diagnose a heart attack, which will have devastating consequences for the patient and their loved ones.
Why Do Heart Attacks Occur?
A heart attack, medically known as a myocardial infarction, is a condition that occurs when the supply of blood to the heart stops or is drastically reduced due to a blockage in the arteries supplying the blood. Excess cholesterol and other fatty substances can accumulate in the lining of these blood vessels, causing a buildup of scar tissue. This causes the wall of the blood vessel to thicken, which is known as plaque.
The plaque then narrows the interior of the artery to the point where it cannot supply enough blood to the heart. The narrowing of the artery is known as ischemia and when this condition goes on for an extended period of time, it results in the death of the cardiac cells. Ischemia can cause a person to suffer death or disability, depending on the portion of the heart muscle that is affected.
When is Failure to Diagnose a Heart Attack Medical Malpractice?
People are commonly misdiagnosed with indigestion, heartburn, or other minor conditions when they are actually suffering from a heart attack. Today, this is no longer acceptable due to the medical advancements and new technology available to emergency room staff. Doctors are expected to listen carefully to a patient’s complaints, take a full review of the family history, and use every diagnostic and therapeutic tool available to properly diagnose heart conditions.
When medical professionals fail to take the appropriate steps and someone suffers a heart attack, doctors can be held liable for medical malpractice. Misdiagnosed patients or their families can file a claim against emergency room staff and any healthcare professional that fails to properly diagnose a heart condition. A Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer can help families claim the full compensation they deserve.
Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Baltimore Today
If a doctor has failed to diagnose your heart condition, or that of someone you love, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers are here to help. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, our skilled attorneys have the necessary experience to hold healthcare professionals liable for their negligence so you claim the fair settlement you are entitled to. Call us today at 410-998-3600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
