Failure to Diagnose & Treat a Heart Attack

Failure to Diagnose Cases in Connecticut

Medical negligence may be responsible for missed or delayed diagnoses of heart attacks in some situations. If you feel that you or a loved one was the victim of a failure to diagnose a heart attack, our legal team is experienced in determining whether there is a viable malpractice case to be brought. If we believe there may be a case, RisCassi & Davis, P.C. will gather all of the pertinent records and review them with the appropriate medical experts so that we can advise you.

Our failure to diagnose attorneys in Connecticut are here to help you. Call us at (860) 245-2412 to begin with a free initial consultation.

Understanding the Dangers of Missing the Signs of a Heart Attack

Missed heart attack diagnoses in the emergency room and by primary care or family medicine practitioners are among the most common medical negligence claims. Studies have shown that about 11,000 cases in the U.S. are not properly diagnosed annually, resulting in unnecessary deaths and preventable injury.

Because of this, it is critical that healthcare providers promptly rule out life-threatening conditions before concluding that the cause of a patient’s possible heart attack symptoms is musculoskeletal or gastrointestinal in nature or the result of some other non-cardiac condition. “Test, don’t guess,” and “worst first,” and are maxims that concisely summarize these priorities.

Acting Quickly Is Critically Important

Time is of the essence because patients who are experiencing heart attacks can be treated with emergency angioplasty, a procedure in which a small balloon is snaked through the blood vessels and inflated at the site of the blockage moving the obstruction to the walls of the coronary artery and restoring normal blood flow. The more time that elapses before this procedure is performed, the more heart tissue dies. Hence the phrase “time is muscle.”

Misdiagnosis Due to Gender, Age, or Race

Women are at a particularly high risk of misdiagnosis of a heart attack. This may be due to the “atypical” symptoms with which women often present such as arm pain, back pain, nausea, or shortness of breath. Women may be misdiagnosed with musculoskeletal problems, indigestion, or emotional issues instead of receiving potentially life-saving cardiac treatment. The elderly and non-white people have also been shown to be more likely to be misdiagnosed in the context of an ongoing or imminent heart attack. Failure to make a timely and accurate diagnosis of a heart attack often has serious medical consequences.

Call RisCassi & Davis, P.C. Today

Remember, all such claims in Connecticut must be brought within two years of the date of the negligence. That fact makes it important to consult with an attorney with experience in negligent failure to diagnose and treat heart attacks sooner rather than later.

Please contact our Connecticut heart attack misdiagnosis lawyers today if we can help you with your case. Remember, there are never legal fees of any kind unless we are successful on your behalf.