Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Heart attack is the leading cause of death in America. Heart pain is also the number one cause of emergency room visits. As such, doctors are always on the lookout for heart issues. Yet, many heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) go undiagnosed, leading to further injury to the patient, or even death. In other cases, a doctor or surgeon may diagnose a heart attack, yet fail to provide proper care, resulting in unnecessary and avoidable harm to the patient. If you or a loved one had a heart attack and it was either improperly diagnosed or treated, you may be able to succeed in medical malpractice claim. Here at Freidin Brown, P.A., our Tampa heart attack malpractice lawyers have over 45 years of history fighting for our clients, and have taken on the largest hospitals and insurance companies and come out victorious. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
There are a number of emergency tissue-saving (and life-saving) procedures that can be performed after a patient suffers a heart attack. These include methods as simple as giving the patient Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and as complex as angioplasty—an emergency surgery that opens narrow or blocked blood vessels with the aid of a stent. The sooner treatment is provided, the less damage the patient’s heart undergoes and the less likely the patient suffers serious harm or death. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack are well-known: shortness of breath, pain in the shoulder and chest, nausea, sweating, dizziness, and pressure in the chest. While these symptoms could be myriad of other illnesses or injuries, doctors have a duty of care that requires them to screen a patient complaining of such symptoms for a heart attack. Failure to diagnose a heart attack can be fatal.
Failure to Treat a Heart Attack
Sometimes a doctor will diagnose a heart attack in time, but fail to provide medical services that meet the necessary standard of care. For example, they may not provide the correct dose or type of medication, or a surgeon may not perform a surgery correctly, resulting in unnecessary harm or death to the patient.
Injured by Medical Malpractice? Contact Our Skilled Lawyers Today!
Damages in a Heart Attack Malpractice Claim
Victims of medical malpractice or the surviving family members of loved ones who passed away due to medical negligence can seek the following damages:
- Medical expenses and future medical procedures
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and lost earning ability due to disability
- Emotional distress
- Loss of joy of life
- Ongoing nursing, housing, or medical care if the injury caused a major disability
- Loss of consortium if malpractice caused death
- Loss of lifetime earnings if malpractice caused death
- Funeral and burial expenses if malpractice caused death
- Loss of joy of life if malpractice caused death
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.
Call a Tampa Heart Attack Malpractice Lawyer Today
No doctor should ever misdiagnose a heart attack as indigestion or asthma, just as no surgeon should fail in their duties to provide surgery to the standard of care. If you or a loved one were harmed due to medical negligence, the Tampa heart attack malpractice lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heart Attack Malpractice
Our firm can answer FAQs about heart attack malpractice cases in Tampa, including:
When does a missed heart attack become medical malpractice in Tampa?
A missed heart attack becomes malpractice when providers fail to follow cardiac evaluation protocols that apply to chest-pain presentations. In Tampa emergency settings, this often turns on whether cardiac testing, monitoring, or admission decisions were delayed or skipped. A Tampa heart attack malpractice attorney at Freidin Brown, P.A. reviews whether the response met cardiology standards, not just whether symptoms were vague.
Can a Tampa hospital be liable for delays in cardiac testing or catheterization?
Yes. Liability can arise from system delays, not just individual physician decisions. In large Tampa facilities such as regional cardiac centers or emergency departments, responsibility may involve staffing, protocol enforcement, or access to cath labs. These institutional factors often become central to heart attack malpractice claims.
How are heart attack malpractice cases investigated differently from stroke cases in Tampa?
Heart attack cases rely heavily on cardiac timelines, lab trends, and treatment windows rather than neurological imaging alone. The legal focus is often on progression of heart muscle damage rather than sudden neurological loss. This distinction affects which experts are used and how causation is proven by Tampa medical malpractice firms.
When you hire a lawyer why does Tampa-specific experience matter in heart attack malpractice claims?
Tampa heart attack cases frequently involve coordination between emergency physicians, cardiologists, and hospital systems. Understanding how care flows through facilities like major Tampa hospitals helps identify where breakdowns occurred. Local familiarity allows a Tampa heart attack malpractice attorney to pinpoint responsibility within complex care teams.
