Heart Attack Medical Malpractice Lawsuits: When Do Victims Have a Case?

There are hundreds of thousands of heart attacks each year. Despite how often they occur, doctors often misdiagnose heart attacks as something else. Sometimes this has fatal consequences, as patients die because they did not receive the treatment they needed in time.

Below, our medical malpractice attorneys in Baltimore, MD discuss when patients who had heart attacks that were misdiagnosed or not treated may be able to file medical malpractice lawsuits.

If you or a loved one were misdiagnosed after suffering a heart attack, or you think you were a victim of some other type of medical malpractice, you may be able to seek compensation. We have recovered millions in compensation for victims of medical malpractice in Maryland. Call to discuss the details of your situation with a member of our legal team.

Call To Learn More: 410-297-0271.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A heart attack is what doctors call it when blood flow to your heart stops or gets blocked. This can be fatal without immediate treatment. Even if doctors restore blood flow to the heart, patients are at risk for future heart attacks, kidney disease, peripheral artery disease or strokes.

Recognizing these common heart attack symptoms quickly could save your life or someone else’s:

• Chest pain, tightness, aching or pressure
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Pain that spreads to your shoulder, arm, upper abdomen, back, neck or jaw
• Cold sweat
• Fatigue
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

How Could Doctors Misdiagnose a Heart Attack?

A heart attack can be difficult to identify because symptoms often vary for each person. Symptoms may be mild, severe or completely nonexistent. Note that some people show their warning signs of a heart attack hours or even weeks ahead of time.

Most people who suffer a heart attack are not going to be grasping at their chests and keeling over in pain. In fact, many heart attack victims can walk into an emergency room or their primary care physician’s office.

It is also worth noting that heart attack symptoms often mirror symptoms of many other medical conditions. It can be difficult to rule out those other ailments and confirm that patient is suffering a heart attack.

Common examples of these other conditions include bronchitis, acid reflux, panic attacks and heartburn. These conditions often cause burning sensations or feelings of sharp pain.

These are some of the most common reasons doctors fail to recognize a heart attack:

• Minor Symptoms: If a heart attack patient complains of nausea or fatigue, a doctor might not expect those to be the only symptoms the patient would suffer during a heart attack. Thus, the doctor does not see a reason to perform any testing to detect a heart attack.
• Normal test results: An electrocardiogram (EKG) is the standard test doctors use to diagnose heart attacks. An EKG measures the heart’s electrical impulse activity. If the EKG results come back normal, a doctor may have no reason to believe the patient is suffering a heart attack.
• Not conducting medical testing or evaluation: On the other side, doctors heavily rely on EKG testing to diagnose a heart attack. If a doctor does not perform this test or a complete medical evaluation of his or her patient, misdiagnosis may be much more likely to happen.
• Not obtaining medical records: High blood pressure and high cholesterol are just two conditions that increase someone’s risk of heart attack. Failure to review a patient’s medical and family history could result in a doctor missing clear warning signs of a heart attack.
• An atypical patient: Heart disease is more prevalent among older men with certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A doctor may not expect a younger patient or a woman to be experiencing a heart attack, especially if their symptoms are atypical. Some atypical symptoms that can be associated with a heart attack, especially in women, include trouble sleeping, heavy arms, abdominal burning, or a flushed (reddened) face or skin.

The Dangers of Heart Attack Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosing a heart attack can result in devastating consequences that could affect victims for the rest of their lives:

Muscle Damage

When your heart does not get the blood or oxygen it needs, your muscle cells can begin to die, ultimately leaving permanent damage.

Heart Failure

If the heart attack you suffer causes extensive damage, your heart may lose its ability to effectively pump blood throughout your body.

Permanent Brain Damage

Your brain needs blood and oxygen at all times. If your brain goes without either one for too long, it can cause irreparable damage.

Higher Risk of Kidney Failure

Heart attacks can reduce the supply of blood to the kidneys, causing significant damage. Impaired kidney function makes it harder for your body to clean your blood.

Higher Risk of a Stroke

This is often the case for the first year after the heart attack. Heart attacks can impair blood flow to the brain, eventually leading to a stroke.

While heart attack misdiagnosis is not always fatal, it can have a variety of serious consequences. Treatment for the effects of a misdiagnosed heart attack can be very costly, and your injuries can hurt your quality of life.

Victims of a misdiagnosed heart attack, or some other form of heart attack malpractice should consider their potential legal options.

Do I Have a Valid Maryland Medical Malpractice Case?

You may be able to file a lawsuit over the misdiagnosis of your or your loved one’s heart attack. The central question of this type of case is whether doctors failed to uphold the standard of care. Your lawyer must provide evidence that doctors did not provide the type of treatment that similarly trained medical professionals would have provided in a similar situation.

The experienced attorneys at The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl know how to investigate these complex situations to determine when and how malpractice may have occurred. We can obtain and review the relevant medical records, with the help of relevant medical experts.

For example, we can evaluate the timeline of when your doctor administered an EKG. Was this test done quickly enough? Did doctors take note of all your symptoms when determining a potential diagnosis and testing and treatment options? If you or your loved one waited 20 or 30 minutes or more for an EKG, there may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heart Attack Medical Malpractice

Can a missed heart attack diagnosis be medical malpractice?

Yes, a missed heart attack diagnosis may be medical malpractice if a doctor, hospital or emergency room failed to recognize symptoms, order appropriate testing or respond to abnormal results. The legal issue is whether the missed diagnosis caused avoidable harm, such as greater heart damage, disability or death.

Can I sue if the ER sent me home during a heart attack?

Yes, you may have a claim if an emergency room discharged you without properly evaluating signs of a heart attack. Providers may be liable if they failed to order an EKG, repeat cardiac enzyme testing, monitor symptoms or admit a high-risk patient. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can review whether the discharge caused preventable harm.

Is delayed treatment for a heart attack considered malpractice?

Delayed heart attack treatment may be malpractice when a provider fails to act within the accepted standard of care. Because delays can increase heart muscle damage, the claim must show that earlier diagnosis or treatment would likely have improved the outcome. This often requires medical records, test results and expert review.

What diagnostic errors can lead to a heart attack malpractice claim?

Diagnostic errors that may support a claim include failing to order an EKG, failing to repeat troponin testing, misreading test results or dismissing symptoms as anxiety, indigestion or muscle pain. These errors can delay critical treatment and worsen cardiac injury. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can assess whether the diagnostic process fell below legal standards.

Can atypical heart attack symptoms support a malpractice case?

Yes, atypical heart attack symptoms may support a malpractice case if providers failed to properly evaluate them in light of the patient’s risk factors. Symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, back pain or jaw pain can still require cardiac testing. Liability depends on whether a reasonable provider should have investigated a possible heart attack.

What evidence is needed to prove heart attack malpractice?

Evidence may include emergency room records, EKG results, troponin levels, physician notes, discharge instructions, medication records and follow-up treatment records. These materials help show what symptoms were reported, what testing was done and whether the delay caused additional harm. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can help identify records that may support causation and liability.

What harm can result from a delayed heart attack diagnosis?

A delayed heart attack diagnosis can cause permanent heart damage, heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, disability, need for additional procedures or death. These outcomes matter legally because damages must be tied to the provider’s failure to diagnose or treat the condition in time. The severity of the long-term impact often affects the value of the claim.

When should I contact a lawyer after a suspected heart attack malpractice case?

You should contact a lawyer if a heart attack was missed, treatment was delayed or the patient’s condition worsened after being dismissed or discharged. Time matters because medical records, testing timelines and witness details are critical to proving what happened. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can evaluate whether the care fell below the accepted standard.

Was Your Heart Attack Misdiagnosed? Call The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl

If you suffered a heart attack and doctors did not provide adequate treatment, our lawyers may be able to assist you with filing a claim for compensation. Call The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl to discuss what happened to you or your loved one and why you think you may have a case.

Our experienced law firm is dedicated to seeking full compensation for those injured by the medical malpractice of doctors and other health care providers. We do not charge any upfront fees.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today. Call: 410-297-0271.

Related Resources

• When Delayed Diagnosis Becomes Malpractice in Maryland
• Failure to Diagnose and Misdiagnosis Claims
• When Heart Surgery Errors Are Medical Malpractice