Heart Attack Injuries from Medical Malpractice

Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bend and Portland Explains Heart Attack Injuries from Medical Malpractice

A heart attack is a life-threatening medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately in order to avoid death or permanent damage of the heart. Over 800,000 Americans suffer from a heart attack each year. Sometimes, an individual may be aware that they are at risk for a heart attack based on certain medical conditions they have, or a heart attack may be completely unexpected. While there are times when even with the best treatment an individual dies from a heart attack or suffers significant damage, often times there are medical interventions that can be done to prevent permanent damage or death. Indeed, improper assessment, treatment, and delays in caring for a person suffering from a heart attack can result in heart attack injuries from medical malpractice. When it is found that medical professionals have failed a patient in providing appropriate interventions to reduce the risk of death or permanent damage, victims and their loved ones can file for damages in Oregon or Minnesota to recover damages. Our medical malpractice lawyer in Bend and Portland can help victims and their families do this.

Here at Kuhlman Law, we are committed to helping heart attack victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve. Despite a heart attack being an obvious condition and a well-known condition, far too many people end up suffering from this tragic condition more than necessary because of medical malpractice. This includes when doctors are slow to treat patients, fail to monitor patients, ignore symptoms, or even misdiagnose a heart attack as GERD or reflux. If this happened to you or a loved one, contact our medical malpractice lawyer in Bend and Portland for help by scheduling a FREE consultation.

Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack

`There are certain signs and symptoms that can indicate a person is having a heart attack. Medical professionals are trained to identify these signs and symptoms in order to provide medical care in a timely manner. Unfortunately, there are times in which medical professionals fail to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack, leading to permanent injury or death. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a myocardial infarction include the following:

• Chest pain
• Pain in the jaw, back, or shoulder blades
• Left arm pain
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Extreme fatigue
• Sudden dizziness or lightheadedness
• Profuse sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Upper abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Other signs of a heart attack
• In certain instances, there are no symptoms at all, only cardiac arrest

Other Conditions That Heart Attacks Are Mistaken For

While the vast majority of heart attacks are appropriately diagnosed and treated by competent medical professionals, there are unfortunately some instances in which heart attacks are mistaken for other conditions, such as the following:

• Gallstones
• Ulcers
• Panic attacks
• Reflux
• Angina
• Pulled muscle
• Fragmented rib

There are many other conditions that may result in a misdiagnosis or wrong diagnosis of a heart attack. This can result in heart attack injuries from medical malpractice in Oregon and Minnesota.

Tests Conducted to Diagnose a Heart Attack

There are many different tests that are commonly run to diagnose a heart attack. Some of the most common tests conducted include the following;

• EKG
• Blood work
• Echocardiogram
• Chest x-rays
• Angiogram
• Cardiac CT or MRI

The failure to diagnose these tests can result in serious personal injuries and permanent injuries to a victim if there is a delay in treatment. As a result, that means heart attack injuries caused by medical malpractice could have been avoided.

Complications From a Delay in Diagnose of a Heart Attack

If a heart attack is not immediately diagnosed and treated, it can lead to serious complications. Some of the most common complications include the following:

• Permanent heart damage
• Arrhythmias
• Heart failure
• Cardiogenic shock

Additionally, the ultimate personal injury is wrongful death due to delays in treatment.

Treatment for Myocardial Infarction

Some of the most common treatments for myocardial infarctions include the following:

• Clot busting medications such as thrombolytics and fibrinolytic
• Aspirin
• Nitroglycerin
• Beta blockers
• Certain blood pressure medications
• Blood thinners
• Statin drugs
• Other treatments for myocardial infarctions

Surgical treatments for myocardial infarctions include the following:

• Coronary angioplasty and stenting
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Heart attack victims often need to undergo cardiac rehabilitation, which includes a personalized plan to improve heart health. This type of rehabilitation focuses of exercise, diet, return to activities of daily living as well as stress management.

How Can Complications From a Heart Attack be Due to Medical Malpractice?

If a person seeks help at an emergency room, urgent care, or doctor’s office and is diagnosed with indigestion, heartburn, anxiety, or something else when in fact they are having a heart attack, this is medical malpractice. Physicians and other health care providers have a duty to perform appropriate diagnostic testing such as an EKG, a comprehensive health history, and other tests such as blood work and additional imaging tests to determine whether or not an individual is experiencing a heart attack.

If a certain type of diagnostic testing is unavailable at that location, they have a duty to ensure that the patient is brought to the appropriate facility to have that testing performed immediately. If diagnostic testing is performed incorrectly (i.e. an EKG), it can lead to inaccurate results. In some cases, appropriate testing may not be performed based on the fact that a patient is younger than the average person to experience a heart attack, which is malpractice in not diagnosing or delaying that diagnosis of a heart attack. Every patient has a right to appropriate testing based on their symptoms. Additionally, if a victim seeks help in the emergency room but is improperly triaged, this can lead to a delay in care. Failure to do so can result in permanent injury or death.

Damages for Victims and Their Loved Ones

If you or your loved one experienced a delay in diagnosis of a heart attack or a heart attack was missed and lead to death or serious harm, you may be eligible for compensation for any damages sustained. Some of the most common damages victims and their loved ones can recover include the following:

• Medical bills
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Lost future earnings
• Funeral and burial expenses

Other damages for victims and their loved ones with the help of a medical malpractice lawyer in Bend and Portland, Oregon.

If You Suffered Heart Attack Injuries from Medical Malpractice, Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bend and Portland, Oregon for Help

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or wrongfully killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.