Screening for Heart Disease

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and early detection is crucial to improving outcomes and preventing severe complications. As such, screening for heart disease is essential for patients presenting with risk factors or concerning symptoms. All too often, however, the failure to conduct appropriate screening leads to missed diagnoses, delayed treatment, and irreversible harm. If you or a loved one sustained injuries due to the lack of screening for heart disease, you have the right to seek damages for your losses, and you should meet with an attorney. The assertive Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at Arfaa Law Group proudly help victims of medical negligence protect their interests, and if you engage our services, we will advocate zealously on your behalf.

Screening for heart disease involves identifying individuals at risk and diagnosing cardiac conditions at their earliest stages. Medical professionals rely on various tools and methods, including physical examinations, blood tests, imaging studies, electrocardiograms (ECGs), echocardiograms, and stress tests, to assess heart health. Patients with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of heart disease are often prime candidates for heart disease screening. Unfortunately, when healthcare providers fail to recommend, order, or properly interpret these tests, the consequences can be catastrophic.

A failure to screen for heart disease can lead to undiagnosed conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, arrhythmias, or heart failure. These conditions, when left untreated, can worsen over time, significantly reducing a patient’s quality of life and even becoming life-threatening. For instance, a patient experiencing subtle symptoms such as fatigue or chest discomfort may have a treatable heart condition that goes undiagnosed due to insufficient screening. When medical professionals fail to act on symptoms or risk factors, they miss vital opportunities for early intervention. The harm caused by delayed or missed diagnoses often results in extended hospital stays, costly medical treatments, and permanent damage to the heart.

Patients harmed by a doctor’s failure to screen for heart disease may pursue medical malpractice claims. In Maryland, to succeed in a malpractice claim, the plaintiff must first demonstrate that the healthcare provider owed them a duty of care. In cases involving heart disease screening, this duty often involves identifying a patient’s risk factors, evaluating symptoms thoroughly, and recommending appropriate diagnostic tests.

Next, the plaintiff must show that the provider breached this duty by failing to order necessary tests, misinterpreting test results, or disregarding clear warning signs. For example, if a patient presents with high cholesterol, chest pain, and shortness of breath, but the provider fails to order an ECG or other screening tests, this could constitute a breach of the standard of care. The plaintiff must then establish causation, meaning that the breach directly led to harm. In heart disease cases, this often involves showing that the provider’s failure to screen caused a delay in diagnosis or treatment, leading to a worsening condition, a heart attack, or other complications. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that they suffered damages as a result of the negligence, such as additional medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Expert testimony is critical in heart disease screening malpractice claims. Maryland law requires plaintiffs to present evidence from qualified medical experts who can explain the standard of care and how the provider’s actions fell below it. An expert witness will typically testify about the proper protocols for screening patients with risk factors, the diagnostic tests that should have been ordered, and how earlier detection could have prevented harm. These experts can also help quantify the damages sustained, such as the need for future medical care or the long-term impact on a patient’s quality of life.

Patients who prove that a healthcare provider’s failure to screen for heart disease caused them harm may be entitled to compensation. Maryland law allows plaintiffs to recover both economic and non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. Economic damages may include past and future medical expenses and lost wages. In contrast, non-economic damages aim to compensate for the intangible harm caused by medical negligence, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Proper screening for heart disease is essential to preventing serious complications and ensuring that patients receive timely and effective treatment. When healthcare providers neglect to conduct necessary tests or misinterpret results, they can cause significant harm. If you or a loved one has suffered due to negligence in heart disease screening, you may be able to recover damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit, and you should talk to an attorney. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group understand the complexities of cases against negligent healthcare providers, and if you hire us, and will work tirelessly to hold the parties responsible for your harm accountable. We have an office in Baltimore, and we proudly represent clients throughout the city. You can contact us at (410) 889-1850 or through our online form to arrange a meeting.