Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose and Treat Heart Attacks

It is sometimes possible to catch the early signs of a heart attack and take steps to prevent stroke or cardiovascular failure before it happens.

A few early symptoms that could point to an impending heart attack include:

• Chest discomfort or pain
• Upper body pain or uncomfortable pressure
• Squeezing feelings
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness
• Syncope or cold sweats

If a patient presents any of these symptoms to a doctor, the doctor must not rule out a heart attack without conducting the proper tests.

Some of the most common reasons a heart attack diagnosis can be missed include:

• Misinterpreting symptoms
• Ignoring warning signs
• Confusion in the emergency room
• Turning a patient away too soon
• Failing to order proper tests
• Misreading test results

Symptoms of a heart attack – especially paired with risk factors such as age, weight, and medical and family history – should receive certain tests to screen for cardiovascular issues.

The most common test physicians order to diagnose a heart attack is the electrocardiogram (EKG). EKGs measure the electrical activity of the heart, testing for abnormalities or problems with the heart’s status. Failure to order an EKG could be malpractice if another doctor would have in a similar situation. In some cases, a doctor will order an EKG and it registers a heart attack, but the physician misses it. After a failed diagnosis of heart attack, talk to a misdiagnosis attorney about the possibility of a medical malpractice claim.