Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
Heart attacks are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the United States every year. In order to survive a heart attack and avoid suffering serious, permanent heart damage, it is very important for a person to receive prompt and effective treatment. If quick medical care is not received, the patient may suffer permanent heart muscle damage, stroke, heart aneurysm, complete heart failure, or death.
While the most severe of heart attacks may not present much chance for misdiagnosis, recognizing a less severe heart attack requires the careful attention of emergency room personnel. Dizziness, backache, shortness of breath, indigestion, sweating, chills, and nausea can all be symptoms of a heart attack, though they may not immediately be considered as such. In many cases, misdiagnosis of a heart attack can lead to a patient spending far too much time sitting in an emergency room waiting area while they are at risk of suffering irreparable heart damage.
Alternative Diagnoses
If a doctor or other emergency room medical professional does not give a patient’s symptoms ample consideration, a heart attack may be incorrectly diagnosed as:
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Pneumonia
- Panic Attack
- Anxiety Attack
- Bronchitis
While they may require medical attention, none of these conditions will warrant the immediate attention a heart attack patient should receive.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has suffered serious medical consequences due to a misdiagnosed heart attack, you should consider filing a liability lawsuit. To find out if you are eligible for compensation and to discuss your legal options, contact that Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers at Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511.