Can a Heart Attack Be Misdiagnosed?

Heart attacks are serious medical emergencies that can cause lasting damage or even be fatal. When it comes to heart attacks, doctors and medical professionals need to be incredibly vigilant. Catching the signs early can mean the difference between life and death. 

However, heart attacks can sometimes be misdiagnosed, which puts patients at serious risk. Whether the symptoms are misunderstood or overlooked, a misdiagnosis can lead to a tragic outcome.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a misdiagnosis, it’s crucial to speak with a skilled medical malpractice attorney who can help you understand your rights and options. At Hodes Milman, we’ve spent over 30 years advocating for people who have suffered due to medical errors and negligence. 

Our team is dedicated to ensuring you get the proper care and the justice you deserve. Contact us today at (949) 640-8222 or reach out online to learn more about how we can help.

How Can a Misdiagnosed Heart Attack Happen?

It may seem surprising that a heart attack can be misdiagnosed, especially given how often they are dramatized in movies and television shows, often depicted with people clutching their chests and suddenly collapsing. However, in reality, heart attack symptoms can vary widely from person to person and not be immediately apparent. 

Every year about 805,000 Americans have a heart attack. However, approximately 11,000 heart attacks are misdiagnosed annually. A heart attack can be misdiagnosed for several reasons, including: 

• Failing to order the proper tests, such as an EKG, blood work, or echocardiogram
• Not taking into account the patient’s medical history and risk factors 
• Interpreting tests incorrectly
• Failing to identify symptoms or mistaking the heart attack for another condition

Misdiagnosed Heart Attack Symptoms

Patients who have symptoms that are similar to heart attacks may have their condition misdiagnosed. Not everyone experiences the classic excruciating chest pain, and some people may have more subtle signs when experiencing a heart attack, such as: 

• Muscle weakness
• Sweating
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pain
• Pain or discomfort in other parts of the upper body, like the shoulder or back

Because of the similarities, a patient could be diagnosed as having a lower-risk condition when, in actuality, it is a heart attack. Other conditions that have symptoms that mimic a heart attack can include:  

• Heartburn
• Anxiety 
• Stress
• Angina
• Muscle strain
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Gallstones
• Esophagitis

Regardless of the symptoms you’re presenting, it’s your doctor’s responsibility to carefully investigate and rule out a heart attack, especially when symptoms could be easily mistaken for something else.

A misdiagnosed heart attack can put patients at serious risk. Failure to identify a heart attack when it’s happening can also increase the chances that a patient may die unnecessarily.

Can I Sue My Doctor for Misdiagnosis of a Heart Attack?

You put your life and health in the hands of a doctor every time you seek medical attention and expect them to provide you with reliable and accurate results in exchange. Therefore, when a doctor fails to diagnose your heart attack correctly, you can hold them liable for their actions and file a medical malpractice lawsuit. You are within your rights to seek compensation from them to recover your losses and get the proper care you need to heal and recover.

Medical malpractice cases can be complex. It is in your best interest to hire a lawyer to help you file your claim and navigate the many requirements and nuances of these cases. A lawyer can hold medical professionals accountable so they do not continue to provide inaccurate diagnoses. 

Medical Malpractice v. Medical Negligence

Understanding the difference between medical malpractice and negligence is an important distinction in a claim for a misdiagnosed heart attack. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor’s action or decision causes harm, while medical negligence is a failure to provide a safe standard of care. Your lawyer can review your case to identify which factors are present and impact your case. 

Can a heart attack be misdiagnosed? Yes, and while it’s true that heart attack symptoms can sometimes be subtle or resemble those of other conditions, that doesn’t mean doctors should overlook the possibility of a heart attack. Medical professionals are trained to consider all potential causes of a patient’s symptoms, including the possibility of a heart attack, no matter how atypical the signs may seem.

At Hodes Milman, we believe in helping you understand your rights and options before making any decisions. That’s why we offer free consultations to discuss your situation and help guide you through the next steps. Reach out to us online or call (949) 640-8222 to speak with our experienced team today.

How a Lawyer Can Help You With a Misdiagnosed Heart Attack Lawsuit

If you have suffered a misdiagnosed heart attack and are considering legal action, you are likely to have many medical malpractice questions. A medical malpractice lawyer will provide answers, discuss your options, build a strong strategy, and negotiate to get you the maximum settlement for the damage you suffered. 

Hodes Milman has extensive experience handling medical malpractice lawsuits and getting results for our clients. Our team secured a $17.25 million award for a Kaiser medical misdiagnosis after a client suffered a stroke from an elective surgery that should not have occurred. Our firm has also been recognized four times with the Top Gun title for medical malpractice.

How Medical Malpractice Is Established

Medical malpractice cases can be challenging and are best handled by a medical malpractice lawyer. When they take on your case, they will gather and review evidence to determine the details that occurred to result in your misdiagnosis. They will use this information to build your case and establish the standard of negligence.

When establishing medical malpractice, your lawyer will show that doctors are held to a high standard to provide quality care in a timely manner, which includes correct diagnostics. However, due to their failure to provide you with the proper diagnosis, you suffered a heart attack that could have been prevented if you received immediate medical attention. Through the direct connection of cause and effect, the doctor or medical professional responsible can be held liable for your losses. 

Statute of Limitations for Misdiagnosed Heart Attacks

When filing a claim for a heart attack misdiagnosis or medical malpractice, it’s important to do so before your state’s statute of limitations expires. For example, in California, you generally have one year from discovering the malpractice or three years from the date of the injury.

However, the statute of limitations can vary by state, so it’s important to know the specific rules in your state. In some cases, exceptions may apply, such as if fraud was involved, medical equipment was left in the body, or a diagnosis was intentionally hidden, which could extend the time limit. 

Be sure to talk with a lawyer who can help you understand how these rules apply to your case based on your state’s laws. 

Types of Compensation Available in a Misdiagnosed Heart Attack Case

Receiving compensation is important to cover your losses caused by a misdiagnosed heart attack. You can recover the cost of your medical expenses related to your misdiagnosis, devices you may be required to use, and lost earnings. You may also receive compensation for the emotional distress, pain and suffering you have experienced, as well as any reduction in quality of life you have sustained. 

Why Hire Hodes Milman

Hodes Milman knows that it can be frightening to receive a misdiagnosis when you should be able to trust your healthcare provider. 

Our team aggressively fights for you and holds the offending party accountable for their negligence. Call us at (949) 640-8222 or contact us online today for a free consultation and let an attorney from our firm help you get back on your feet following a heart attack misdiagnosis.