Cardiology Malpractice
Heart disease has long been the leading cause of death in America for both men and women – taking the lives of approximately 695,000 people every year (1 out of every 5 deaths). Unfortunately, errors in treatment by cardiology specialists, either in failing to detect, or failing to properly treat a serious heart condition can lead to injury and/or death. Medication errors and poor physician response to signs and symptoms are two leading reasons for half of cardiac arrests being potentially preventable.
Misdiagnosis and Cardiology Errors
Although sophisticated technology can detect many heart problems, misdiagnosis of conditions is a very common cardiology error. Physicians may fail, for instance, to identify or control hypertension, coronary artery disease, aneurysms, or acute myocardial infarctions (a heart attack). Because these conditions can resemble other common ailments, without proper medical attention, misdiagnosis remains a common cardiology error.
Read more about misdiagnosis of heart failure here.
Failure to Diagnose and Cardiology Errors
Another cardiology error is the failure to diagnose a condition at all. Although physicians are aware that high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and diabetes are significant risk factors, they may fail to provide warning or adequate interventions. Failing to diagnose a potentially life-threatening condition is an avoidable but costly type of cardiology error.
Failure to diagnose a heart attack is a potentially fatal cardiology error. Many hospitals aim to treat a heart attack victim within 90 minutes. Interventions like asprin, clot-busting drugs, and artery-opening angioplasty are responsible for over half of the reduction in heart attack deaths since 1985. Unfortunately, cardiology errors persist in the practice of medicine when hospitals or physicians fail to diagnose and act promptly. Failure to identify any of the following signs of a heart attack can be fatal and is a severe cardiology error:
- Any type of chest discomfort, pressure, sensation of fullness or chest pain lasting more than a few minutes
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms
- Lightheadedness, fainting, nausea, shortness of breath, sweating
- Nervousness, anxiety, or cold, sweaty skin
- Paleness
- Increased or irregular heart rate
Pharmaceuticals, Drugs, and Cardiology Errors
It is important to communicate with your physician and pharmacist and make sure the proper medication is given in the proper dosage. It is, however, the physician’s responsibility to avoid this type of cardiology error.
COVID-19
Having COVID-19 affects your cardiovascular systems and increases the chance of heart problems. Read the Cleveland Clinic’s in-depth discussion about heart problems after COVID-19 here.
If you or a loved one has been affected by cardiology malpractice, it is critical to have an informed, detail-oriented, and dedicated medical malpractice attorney who will tirelessly advocate for you and your case. Please contact Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz at SIlverman Thompson for a free consultation, toll-free, at 800-385-2243.