We all probably know the statistics – heart disease is the number one cause of death in the country. We also know that it is responsible for the deaths of 1 in 4 women in the country. One of the main problems facing medicine when it comes to treating a woman’s heart attack is a failure to properly diagnose it. The Yale School of Public Health has found that lesser-known known heart attack symptoms are not being properly recognized.
People know to look out for chest pain and maybe left arm pain, but sometimes heart attacks do not display those symptoms. A study found that nearly 62% of women “presented with more than three non-chest pain symptoms” when it came to heart attacks. Some of these include stomach pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea.
At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we recognize that a proper diagnosis is fundamental to survival during a heart attack. If you or a loved one are misdiagnosed, the consequences can be severe. When you need a Philadelphia heart attack attorney, call us today.
In that same study we discussed above, 53% of women said “their healthcare provider did not think the symptoms were heart-related” when they were, in fact, having a heart attack. Doctors must do a better job of recognizing the hidden symptoms of a heart attack. If they do not, their patients could end up much worse.
If we consider that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US and that medical mistakes are the number three killer, then we can see that the combination is not good. Combined, they kill more than a million people annually.
While we recognize that not every case of a misdiagnosed heart attack is due to carelessness, there are times when doctors do make mistakes.
Sometimes doctors are busy or distracted. This is especially true in busy emergency departments and ERs that are short-staffed. This can lead to a failure to recognize symptoms, a failure to perform proper tests, incomplete patient medical histories, and incomplete physical exams.
One of the major contributors to medical mistakes is a misdiagnosis. Johns Hopkins researches place the most patient harm on missed diagnosis and a failure to treat because of that.
Experiencing a misdiagnosis can be detrimental, especially when it comes to a heart attack. If you or a loved one were misdiagnosed, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our qualified and experienced team will thoroughly review your case so we can form a path forward. You deserve to be compensated for what you have been through. This can include coverage of your medical bills, pain and suffering damages, as well as punitive damages. When you need a heart attack attorney in Philadelphia, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
