Failure to Diagnose Heart Problems
Mistakes by doctors are never acceptable, especially when such errors can literally mean the difference between life and death. That’s why it’s important that you speak with a skilled Irvine, CA medical malpractice attorney. Lawyers Sean M. Burke and Jason N. Argos are here to help you in your time of legal need.
Given the prevalence of heart disease in America, we want to focus on misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of heart conditions. We’ll first go over some telling statistics about these health issues and then consider how a lawyer can help.
Statistics on Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recorded 647,457 deaths in 2017 attributed to heart disease. An additional 146,383 deaths were linked to stroke and cerebrovascular disease.
Given that heart disease is a leading cause of death in America, you can imagine just how serious it is for a doctor to misdiagnose or fail to diagnose heart disease and its warning signs.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
The CDC also identifies leading risk factors for heart disease. This includes:
- Diabetes
- Overweight
- Obesity
- Poor diet
- Lack of physical activity
- Excessive use of alcohol
The CDC notes that almost half of Americans have at least one of the above risk factors present, which makes clear why heart disease is such a common cause of death in the United States. This is part of the reason our Irvine law firm takes these kinds of cases so seriously.
Doctors Should Suggest Preventative Care If Risks Are Present
If any risk factors for heart disease or heart attack are present, it’s essential that doctors suggest various measures for preventative care. That could include suggestions to lose weight, eat a more balanced diet, refrain from alcohol consumption, or lead a more active lifestyle.
In addition to preventative care, doctors can also prescribe medications to help address issues with blood pressure, and perform other medical treatments to reduce the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.
The Dangers of Misdiagnosing Heart Disease
When heart disease is not diagnosed or the diagnosis is delayed, it puts the patient at serious risk. Preventative care is one of the best ways to reduce the dangers of heart disease, and it could save lives. When doctors do not properly diagnose conditions, they put their patient’s life at risk. A failed diagnosis means delayed treatment, and could literally mean the difference between life and death.
Holding Negligent Doctors Accountable
If you or a loved one has suffered from heart disease that was not properly diagnosed by a doctor, our attorneys can help. We will make sure that the doctor is held accountable for their failure to diagnose the health issue, even with risk factors present.
When seeking damages, we will try to cover the cost of additional medical treatment, lost wages due to medical issues, and the pain and suffering associated with the misdiagnosed heart disease. In addition to those compensatory damages, we can also seek punitive damages if the improper diagnosis of the condition was especially egregious and unacceptable.
Learn More About Your Legal Options
If you or someone you love has suffered because of a failure to diagnose a heart condition, we encourage you to contact our skilled medical malpractice and injury lawyers. You can reach the law firm of Burke Argos by phone at (949) 644-3434.
