A heart attack requires immediate and accurate medical intervention, and failure to act appropriately can lead to terrible consequences, even death. If staff at an Adventist Health Systems facility failed to diagnose a heart attack promptly, misdiagnosed it, or delayed critical treatment, you may be eligible for compensation. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you analyze your options and determine the best steps to take moving forward.
Heart Attack Care Standards And Potential Lapses
The standard of care for a suspected heart attack includes rapid assessment, EKG, cardiac enzyme tests, and timely, appropriate interventions (e.g., angioplasty, clot-busting drugs). Failure to uphold this standard of care can be devastating for victims. Examples of actions that may be categorized as medical negligence or malpractice include:
- Failure to Recognize Symptoms: Dismissing chest pain or other typical/atypical heart attack signs.
- Delaying or Misinterpreting EKG/Cardiac Enzymes: Not performing these crucial tests quickly or failing to act on abnormal results in a prompt and reasonable manner.
- Premature Discharge: Sending a patient home from an Adventist Health Systems ER or clinic despite ongoing or concerning symptoms.
- Failure to Consult a Cardiologist in a timely manner when warranted.
- Delaying Life-Saving Interventions such as angioplasty or bypass surgery when indicated at an Adventist Health Systems hospital.
If you believe that you have suffered from negligence in one of the above forms or in some other manner, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
The Impact Of Delayed Or Misdiagnosed Heart Attacks
Attorneys such as our colleagues at Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. know that the longer a heart attack goes untreated by Adventist Health Systems staff, the greater the potential damage to the heart it can cause. This can lead to an increased risk of death, congestive heart failure, permanent heart damage, and a reduced quality of life.
Filing A Medical Malpractice Claim For Negligent Heart Attack Care
Pursuing a medical malpractice claim can be a complicated task, but with an experienced lawyer on your side, it can be made easier. A lawyer will:
- Conduct a Thorough Investigation: Reviewing all medical records from Adventist Health Systems, including ER notes, EKG strips, lab results, and physician orders.
- Engage Cardiology Specialists: To assess whether the care provided by Adventist Health Systems met accepted medical standards.
- Prove Causation and Damages: Demonstrating how any deviation in care by Adventist Health Systems led to a worsened outcome and calculating the extent of harm.
- Seek Just Compensation: Compensation for malpractice often includes payment for medical bills and expenses, rehabilitation and therapy, long-term care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact An Attorney Today
If a delayed diagnosis or improper treatment of a heart attack at an Adventist Health Systems facility has harmed you or a loved one, contact an experienced attorney today. A lawyer can help you understand your legal options and how to move forward after experiencing medical negligence. These cases are time sensitive, and it is important to act quickly and contact an attorney as soon as possible.