(845) 802-0047The aftermath of a heart attack could be catastrophic to an individual. Major cardiac surgeries could require months of recovery, and the damage caused by a heart attack could permanently impact your ability to perform daily activities. If the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional led to a delay in your treatment or worsens your heart condition, you should speak to an Albany heart attack malpractice lawyer for advice.
When you feel symptoms of a heart attack, you deserve appropriate medical treatment. If you do not receive the proper medical care, you may be able to seek compensation. It is best to consult a dedicated medical malpractice attorney to learn about all your legal options.
The Dangers of Delayed Treatment for Cardiovascular Diseases
Most medical conditions respond better to quick intervention and care, and heart attacks are no exception. Misdiagnosis of a heart attack or dismissal of heart attack symptoms by doctors can lead directly to more severe and permanent damage to the heart. As an Albany heart attack malpractice lawyer could explain, extreme cases of heart attack misdiagnosis could also lead to death. This may necessitate lengthier and more invasive courses of treatment and could create permanent impairment in some patients.
How Do Heart Attacks Happen?
A heart attack occurs when there are blockages in major arteries, which provides blood flow to the heart. The blockages reduce or stop the blood flow altogether, which deprives the heart of oxygen. The longer it takes to restore blood flow to the heart, the worse the damage might be.
How Does Malpractice Occur in Heart Attack Patients in Albany?
Heart attack malpractice may take many forms. One of the more common situations is when emergency room doctors or family doctors turn patients away when they complain of symptoms that might signify a heart attack. Doctors may dismiss patients as being too young, too slim, or too healthy to have a heart attack.
Family physicians may not see the need to refer their patients with these symptoms to a specialist or cardiologist for a further follow-up. When this occurs, heart attacks may go untreated for far too long, causing complications and requiring more invasive surgeries by the time the problem is finally discovered.
Still, other doctors may not completely disregard the signs of a heart attack and might dismiss the symptoms as indicative of other medical or psychological conditions. This could include anxiety or heartburn. A knowledgeable Albany attorney could explain how heart attack malpractice may have occurred and what options injured patients may have available.
Elements of a Myocardial Infarction Malpractice Claim
Most heart attack and general medical malpractice claims are based on the legal principle of negligence. A physician is considered negligent when they fail to provide the same level of appropriate care as other medical professionals would reasonably provide under the same circumstances.
If the negligent action or inaction directly leads to injuries to the patient, the physician may be held liable in a malpractice claim. In the case of a heart attack, failure to adequately diagnose symptoms, follow up with testing, and other similar conduct could also result in heart attack malpractice.
Speak to an Albany Heart Attack Malpractice Attorney
Any delays in treatment for a heart attack could cause serious damage and, in some cases, may be fatal. While seeking legal advice might be the last thing on your mind in the midst of a medical emergency, it is critical to helping you seek compensation. If you or a loved one did not receive proper medical care for a heart attack that resulted in further injuries or death, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. It is best to contact an Albany heart attack malpractice lawyer as quickly as possible following the incident. You may be entitled to compensation from any losses that you have sustained. Call today to get started on your claim.