Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack

Heart disease is among the leading cause of death in the United States. Timely diagnosis of heart disease is necessary to prevent an attack. If you or someone close to you has suffered serious harm or a tragic death due to a medical professional’s failure to diagnose a heart attack, you may be able to take legal action. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers have the experience, compassion, and dedication to represent you. You can rest assured that we will thoroughly investigate the cause of your injuries and zealously advocate for your right to compensation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year 610,000 people in the United States die of heart disease – that is one in every four deaths. The CDC reports that every year 735,000 Americans have a heart attack, of which 525,000 are a first heart attack, and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack. Based on an article by the American Medical Association, medical malpractice causes approximately 225,000 deaths per year.

A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the flow of blood to the heart. The failure to diagnose a heart attack may take place in a variety of health care settings, including a doctor’s office, an emergency room, or a surgical suite. In some cases, a heart attack may be misidentified as another condition, such as heartburn or indigestion.

If a health care professional fails to diagnose a heart attack, the victim may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice is a form of professional negligence which occurs when a health care professional’s conduct falls below the accepted standard of care and causes harm or death to a patient. To establish medical malpractice, the plaintiff must show that the medical professional owed a duty of care, that the medical professional breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff, and that the medical professional’s breach was a direct cause of the victim’s harm. A cardiologist will generally serve as an expert witness and help in establishing the elements of a claim.

Once negligence is established, a plaintiff can pursue justice and compensation for his or her injuries. While the damages will vary depending on the specific facts of the case, a plaintiff will typically be able to recover past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, disability, and other economic damages. When it comes to non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, Maryland imposes a limit on the amount of compensation a plaintiff can recover. However, this cap is increased annually. It is also important to recognize that medical malpractice claims must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. In general, the statute of limitations is either five years from the date that the malpractice occurred, or three years from the date that the injury or error was originally discovered.

If you have suffered as a result of the failure to diagnosis a heart attack or the misdiagnosis of another medical condition it is important to seek the guidance of a Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we have successfully pursued compensation for those who have suffered injury as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence. Our injury attorneys represent victims throughout the state of Maryland. To get a free evaluation of your case, you can call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.