Medical Malpractice Lawyers

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Questions About Heart Attack Malpractice

 

What are some of the most common mistakes made during the diagnosis of a heart attack that may lead to medical malpractice claims?

 

• Missing heart attacks in younger patients
• Missing heart attacks in women; heart attacks in women often present as gastrointestinal symptoms
• An electrocardiogram (ECG) does not always successfully rule out a heart attack. Studies show that 23% of misdiagnosed heart attacks were due to an improper ECG reading by a doctor.

 

What are some factors that may be overlooked when assessing a patient with cardiac symptoms?

 

• Previous cardiac problems
• Medical history and drug interaction
• Lifestyle
• Use of tobacco
• Menopause issues

 

What constitutes medical malpractice or medical negligence?

 

If a patient presents with chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, arm pain, blurred vision, or irregular heartbeat, a medical professional may commit malpractice if he/she negligently fails to consider the patient's risk factors, fails to order or perform the appropriate diagnostic testing, or fails to thoroughly investigate the areas and degree of physical pain the patient is having.

 

What are some diagnostic tools to determine cardiac problems?

 

• ECG (commonly called EKG) measures the electrical output of the heart and can show an abnormal heart beat
• Blood test will measure the level of cholesterol and c-reactive protein which relates to risk factors such as higher levels of arterial inflammation and calcification (narrowing) of coronary arteries. During a heart attack, there may be elevated enzymes such as cardiac troponin or creatine phosphokinase. A blood test will show this.
• Cardiac catheterization/Angiogram is an imaging study where the release of a special dye into the blood vessels via catheter will indicate an artery blockage or clot.
• Echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart that can show the capacity of the heart walls and valves as they function
• CT Scan (commonly called a CAT scan) can detect levels of increased calcification or narrowing of the coronary arteries.
• Thallium Stress Test is used to enhance photographic images of the heart during exercise on a treadmill and at rest.

 

To learn more about misdiagnosis of a heart attack or failure to diagnose a heart attack, please contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today to schedule your initial consultation. We serve clients in New York and NYC including Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, and Queens.

 

 

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
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