If you or a loved one is a victim of the negligent failure to diagnose or treat a heart attack in Boston, Massachusetts, contact Barry D. Lang, M.D. & Associates for assistance. Our team of attorneys have over 20 years of experience in medical malpractice law and are passionate about helping injured patients seek the justice and financial compensation that they deserve. Request your free case consultation with our Boston failure to diagnose heart attack lawyers today.
Signs of a Heart Attack
When you think of a heart attack, you might imagine symptoms that are so severe that it would be impossible to mistake them for anything else. However, this is not always the case. Many heart attack victims experience minor cardiac arrests leading up to a major heart attack. These can be easier for a doctor to misdiagnose or mistake for a panic attack.
The symptoms of a heart attack can mimic the symptoms of many other less serious health issues, such as a panic attack or angina. These symptoms often include:
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive anxiety
- Shortness of breath
- Radiating pain in the left arm
Why Are Heart Attacks Commonly Misdiagnosed?
Heart attacks are a leading cause of death in the United States. All medical professionals are trained in how to distinguish between a heart attack and other illnesses or health problems, as well as how to effectively treat heart attacks. Unfortunately, not all health care providers meet their duties of care to patients.
Upon receiving a patient who is exhibiting the possible signs of a heart attack, it is a doctor’s responsibility to run the proper tests to make a diagnosis. The failure to order an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, for example, could be medical malpractice if the doctor reasonably should have to rule out a heart attack. Chest x-rays and blood tests can also diagnose a heart attack.
Even if a doctor orders the proper tests, if he or she misinterprets the results or the tests were performed incorrectly, this can lead to a misdiagnosis or the failure to diagnose a heart attack. Another example of medical malpractice is a doctor ignoring a patient’s medical history or skipping the physical exam. These mistakes can occur due to hospital understaffing and busy, overworked physicians. Failing to spend the proper amount of time and attention on a patient can make a doctor incorrectly assume that a heart attack did not occur.
Compensation Available for the Failure to Diagnose a Heart Attack in Boston
You might have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Massachusetts for the failure to diagnose or treat a heart attack if your doctor reasonably should have done more to make the correct diagnosis. If a prudent physician would have come to the correct diagnosis and properly treated your heart attack, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against a negligent doctor.
The financial compensation that may be awarded for a successful medical malpractice case in Boston could cover:
- Medical bill reimbursement
- Payment for required treatments or medications
- Lost wages or capacity to earn in the future
- Out-of-pocket costs, including attorney’s fees
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional harm or mental anguish
- Death benefits for wrongful death
A successful medical malpractice lawsuit typically requires representation from an experienced heart attack misdiagnosis attorney in Boston. Medical malpractice is one of the most complicated practice areas within personal injury law. Your Boston medical malpractice lawyer can help you navigate Massachusetts’ medical malpractice laws and requirements, including the presentation of evidence before a tribunal prior to filing your lawsuit. You do not have to pursue justice for a heart attack misdiagnosis alone.
Contact a Boston Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Lawyer Today
If you suffered harm or a loved one passed away because of a doctor’s negligent failure to diagnose or treat a heart attack, you may be entitled to financial compensation from one or more parties. While no amount of money can reverse the harm that you suffered due to a heart attack misdiagnosis, a successful lawsuit can provide justice and make it easier to move forward.
Contact Barry D. Lang, M.D. & Associates today to learn more about how a Boston medical misdiagnosis lawyer can help during a free case consultation. Call 1-877-LAW-DOCS anytime or contact us online.