Fairfax, VA Heart Attack Malpractice Lawyer

Experienced Heart Attack Malpractice Lawyers Representing Injured Patients in Fairfax, Virginia

A heart attack is one of the most serious medical emergencies a person can experience. The heart depends on the blood supplied through the coronary arteries, and when blockages occur in those arteries, the heart's muscle tissue may begin to die within minutes. The extent of the damage and the long-term consequences a person may experience will depend on how quickly a heart attack is identified and treated.

Medical professionals in emergency rooms, urgent care facilities, or other medical offices should take steps to recognize the signs of a heart attack and respond immediately. When they fail to do so, the heart can sustain severe damage that could have been prevented. The consequences of medical malpractice related to a heart attack can affect a patient for the rest of their life.

At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our attorney can help address medical negligence that prevented a person from receiving the proper treatment for a heart attack. He can evaluate a case and gather the evidence needed to show that a doctor or other provider was negligent. He will make sure all legal requirements are met during a case and advocate for compensation that will fully address the injuries a person has suffered.

Why Prompt Heart Attack Treatment Is Essential

When cardiac tissue does not receive enough blood flow during a heart attack, the cells that die will be permanently lost. Scar tissue can form, preventing the heart from functioning correctly. The extent of the damage that occurs will often depend on how long a blockage prevents blood flow. Timely treatment is crucial to ensure that blood flow can be restored as quickly as possible.

Cardiologists and emergency medical providers need to act quickly to address a heart attack. When they provide the proper treatment, a patient may be able to recover from a heart attack as cardiac function is restored. However, when treatment is delayed, the damage to the heart may be more serious, and a patient's long-term prognosis may be worse.

How Medical Negligence Can Harm Heart Attack Patients

Errors may be made during the initial evaluation of a patient's symptoms or when providing treatment. Malpractice related to heart attacks may involve issues such as:

Failure to Recognize Heart Attack Symptoms

While some heart attack patients may experience severe chest pain, arm pain, and obvious distress, many experience other types of symptoms. Women, diabetic patients, and elderly people are more likely to suffer from symptoms that may be less obvious. Women may experience fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, jaw pain, or back pain. Diabetic patients may experience reduced pain sensations, and they may not experience the chest pain that is usually associated with a heart attack. Elderly patients may experience issues such as confusion or weakness without typical chest symptoms.

A provider may fail to consider a heart attack when a patient's symptoms are outside the norm. This can lead to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, preventing a person from receiving the treatment needed to prevent damage to the heart.

Attributing Heart Attack Symptoms to Other Causes

When a patient reports chest pain, providers may not attribute these symptoms to a heart attack. They may believe that a patient is experiencing acid reflux, anxiety, or pulmonary disorders. A misdiagnosis may occur if a doctor does not fully consider a patient's risk factors, including age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking history, cholesterol levels, obesity, or a family history of heart disease. They may also attribute symptoms such as shortness of breath, jaw pain, or arm pain to issues such as muscle strain or anxiety without recognizing that a person is experiencing a heart attack.

Failure to Order Tests or Interpret Test Results Correctly

An electrocardiogram may be used to identify a heart attack. In most cases, this test should be performed shortly after a patient's arrival in a facility when a heart attack may be a possibility. Delays in performing tests can prevent a doctor from recognizing a heart attack.

A heart attack may be misdiagnosed if test results are not interpreted correctly. A doctor may misread an electrocardiogram and fail to recognize abnormal patterns that indicate a heart attack. This may result in a patient being discharged without receiving treatment.

Delays in Providing Treatment

When a patient has been diagnosed with a heart attack, immediate treatment may need to be provided to prevent damage to their heart. If providers delay in transferring patients to facilities where surgery or other forms of treatment can be provided, a patient may suffer an injury that should have been prevented. Delays may occur when providers fail to recognize the need to transfer a patient, do not arrange for quick transportation, or fail to maintain the proper communication between different facilities or departments.

Inadequate Monitoring

Heart attack patients will require careful monitoring during hospitalization. Failure to monitor for potential complications and address heart-related issues promptly can result in additional health issues that may lead to serious injuries or death.

Proper follow-up treatment will also need to be provided after a patient is discharged. This treatment may include medication management, follow-up cardiology appointments, and instructions about symptoms that may need to be addressed. A patient who is discharged without taking the proper steps to protect their ongoing health may experience complications that could lead to serious harm.

Contact Our Fairfax, VA Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Attorney

When a heart attack has been misdiagnosed or has not been treated correctly, the attorney at Shevlin Smith, P.C. can help a patient take steps to hold negligent medical providers responsible for the injuries they have suffered. Contact our Fairfax heart attack lawyer at 703-591-0067 to schedule a free consultation.