Compensation for Failure to Diagnose a Heart Attack
A heart attack is not necessarily fatal. However, even a mild undiagnosed heart attack can cause long-term debilitating symptoms and a failure by medical professionals to identify the significance of a person's symptoms may be regarded as negligent.
Diagnosis failure
A failure to diagnose and treat a heart attack can leave the victim with an array of debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening problems.
- Fatigue
- Breathlessness
- Feeling faint
- An abnormal heartbeat
- At risk of suffering another, perhaps more severe, heart attack
The impact of these symptoms can be considerable, reducing an individual's capacity to work and reducing their capacity to undertake normal daily activities. Financially, the impact can be devastating and a successful compensation claim, where appropriate, can help the individual to cope with their on-going difficulties.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Symptoms of a heart attack or myocardial infarction vary from person to person and may be mild in some people. The potential severity of an attack, however, should ensure that any possible signs of a heart attack are thoroughly explored and, where necessary, treated.
Symptoms that someone is having a heart attack can include the following:
- Chest pain
- Pain spreading to the arms
- Breathlessness
- Feeling faint or light-headed
The patient may need to undergo an ECG and an echocardiogram to assess the condition of their heart in order to identify if it is the underlying cause of their symptoms.
If the patient is sent home with an incorrect diagnosis of, say, indigestion or angina, their medical professional may be regarded as having acted negligently.
In the meantime, their condition may deteriorate, leaving them more vulnerable to a very poor outcome.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are struggling with the severe consequences of a failure to diagnose a heart attack, contact Glynns Solicitors to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
We have supported numerous clients in making highly-successful compensation claims for the effects of significant medical failings and one of our specialist team will be very happy to discuss your experience with you free of charge.
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