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Many Americans suffer from heart disease and other coronary ailments due to poor diet, lack of exercise, and other factors. One common heart issue is a heart attack, also known as an atrial myocardial infarction (AMI). A heart attack occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart. The affected tissue loses oxygen and dies.
Because heart attacks are so common, doctors should be aware of the symptoms. They include chest pain, pain in the arms, neck pain, back pain, nausea, shortness of breath, and cold sweats. When doctors fail to recognize the symptoms, the patient’s condition can quickly worsen, causing death.
If your doctor failed to diagnose a heart attack in a timely manner, you may be able to file a claim against the negligent parties. Seek legal help from the Fort Lauderdale heart attack malpractice lawyers at Freidin Brown.
What is Heart Attack Malpractice?
Heart attack malpractice typically occurs in two ways:
- The health care provider fails to diagnose a heart attack. The doctor may fail to recognize the symptoms, fail to order proper lab screenings, or diagnose the heart attack as something else.
- The health care provider implements the wrong treatment plan. If the doctor does not thoroughly assess the patient’s symptoms or fails to carefully review patient charts, then the patient could receive the wrong medication. The doctor may administer drugs that can lead to allergic reactions or other serious side effects.
Heart attack symptoms are so universally known that doctors should be able to identify them right away. However, heart attacks are often misdiagnosed as heartburn, indigestion, and other non-life-threatening ailments.
That’s why doctors need to look at a few things before making a diagnosis:
- Did they physically examine the patient?
- Do the records reflect common heart attack symptoms?
- Is there a family history of heart disease?
- Were the proper tests conducted?
Heart Attack Misdiagnosed?
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Onset of Heart Attack Symptoms
Heart attack symptoms tend to come about slowly and persist for several minutes. They may go away and come back again, or they may occur off and on over the course of several hours.
Chest pain that lasts for several weeks or months is not a heart attack, but a person should not wait to see how long the pain lasts. It is important to seek emergency treatment promptly — for best results, within 90 minutes.
Without prompt treatment, a heart attack can lead to complications such as arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), cardiogenic shock (damage to the heart muscle), and heart failure (when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently).
You and your staff are simply the best. Jonathan I would like to say I proud of the manner in which you conducted yourself toward my family matter. You are my mentor and someone that I look up to. . . . I will always remember you and would highly recommend you to any family and friends. We appreciate everything you did for us. Staying with us. Being patient with us. And, most importantly believing in us. Our family will forever have a feeling of gratitude for all that you have done. I have tremendous respect and appreciation for Phil Freidin. He is a powerful and kind lawyer. He has proven to me that he genuinely cares about his clients; however, he is a force to be reckoned with in the conference and court rooms. Jonathan impressed me with his professionalism and expertise! Jonathan and Lizy handled my Medical Malpractice case with skill and secured a favorable outcome! They were responsive and kept me informed throughout my process. I highly recommend them to my Family and Friends! They were not even able to take on my case, but the person who did my intake and the lawyer I spoke to were incredibly validating, kind, and helpful. I appreciated the care and time they gave me even when I did not become a client. Jonathan, Phil, and the rest of the Freidin Brown attorneys were both professional and compassionate. They were always responsive to my family and me, and they have a deep dedication to their clients. I highly recommend the great lawyers at this firm! My experience with Freidin Brown was above my expectations. Philip Freidin took my case and settlement to finish line with amazing results. I highly recommend this Law Firm. Our family was referred to Freidin Brown by another attorney who could not handle our case and from day one we felt like we were in good hands. Johnathan Freidin was always available and willing to answer any questions we had. We are extremely happy with the results of our case and would recommend this team in a heartbeat. Had the pleasure of working with Andrew this year. He was very knowledgeable, but most importantly, he asked questions and listened to truly understand MY needs. Would definitely use this team again.
Contact Freidin Brown, P.A. Today
Heart attacks happen every minute in the United States. While most people do survive one, it is possible to suffer a worsened health condition or even death because of one.
Freidin Brown, P.A. can help you handle a claim and hold your doctor responsible for their mistakes. Contact our Fort Lauderdale heart attack malpractice lawyers to schedule a free consultation. Fill out the online form or call us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heart Attack Malpractice
Our firm can answer FAQs about heart attack malpractice cases in Fort Lauderdale, including:
What should I do if a Fort Lauderdale ER sent me home and I later suffered a heart attack?
Request the complete emergency department record immediately, including triage notes, monitoring strips, lab results, test orders, and discharge paperwork. The timeline between symptoms, testing, reassessment, and discharge is often at the center of the case. A Fort Lauderdale heart attack malpractice lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. can review whether accepted cardiac standards were followed before you were sent home.
Can dismissing chest pain as heartburn, anxiety, or indigestion amount to malpractice in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Chest pain that is written off as heartburn, anxiety, or indigestion can support a claim when the provider failed to reasonably rule out a cardiac event first. The Fort Lauderdale heart attack malpractice attorney at Freidin Brown, P.A. looks closely at symptoms, vital signs, and whether the chart supported the decision to discharge the patient.
Do I have a Fort Lauderdale heart attack claim if the doctor never ordered cardiac testing or lab work?
Possibly yes. When symptoms suggest a cardiac problem, failure to order appropriate testing or lab work can be strong evidence that the diagnostic process was incomplete. A Fort Lauderdale heart attack malpractice lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. evaluates what should have been ordered based on the patient’s presentation.
How do charted symptoms, family history, or known cardiac risk factors affect a malpractice case in Fort Lauderdale?
They can be very important. Charted symptoms, prior cardiac history, and family history often show what information the provider had when making the diagnosis. The Fort Lauderdale heart attack malpractice attorney at Freidin Brown, P.A. reviews whether those risk factors were recognized or ignored.
