Medical Malpractice and Failure to Diagnose Heart Conditions
People rely on medical professionals to diagnose and treat health problems. When individuals receive care that falls below the accepted standard, the results can be catastrophic or deadly. Risks are especially high when heart conditions are involved.
One of the most common types of medical malpractice involving cardiac issues is a failure to diagnose. Patients who suspect they have been victims of medical malpractice and failure to diagnose heart conditions can work with medical malpractice lawyer Daniel D. Moody to hold medical professionals accountable. Our legal team works hard so that our Lakeland, FL and Winter Haven, FL clients get the maximum compensation they are due for damages stemming from substandard medical care.
Early Diagnosis Is Key to Addressing Heart Conditions
Year after year, heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. The best defense a person has against heart disease is practicing a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and a nutritious diet. However, even when a person does their part to care for their body, cardiac conditions may be present.
When it comes to treating and managing heart problems, early diagnosis is key. With early intervention, many people can avoid heart attacks, cardiac arrest, and other serious injuries or catastrophic events. Unfortunately, when heart conditions are not diagnosed, the results can be deadly.
How Do Medical Professionals Fail to Diagnose Heart Conditions?
Even the most basic medical exams usually include monitoring of a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If either of these readings are irregular, it should be an indication that further testing or screening is needed.
Heart conditions are missed more than would be expected. Most often, a failure to diagnose heart conditions is a direct result of neglect or substandard medical care. Behaviors that could result in a failure to diagnose heart conditions include:
- Failure to order necessary diagnostic tests
- Ignoring or misreading symptoms of cardiac conditions
- Misreading the results of diagnostic tests
- Misdiagnosing a patient with a different condition
Proving Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals and hospitals often have large legal teams on their side ready to defend against accusations of medical malpractice. When representing medical malpractice victims in the Lakeland area, there are four factors that Daniel D. Moody must prove:
- There was a doctor-patient relationship that legally bound the medical professional to provide our client with care.
- The medical professional failed to perform their duties to the accepted standard of care.
- The medical professional’s negligence or wrongdoing was a direct cause of injury, harm, or death.
- Resulting injuries led to further damages or losses.
To prove the four aspects of a medical malpractice case we rely on a wide range of evidence, including medical records and expert witness testimony from other medical professionals.
Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice involving cardiac conditions can be especially damaging. If a heart condition is not diagnosed, patients may suffer catastrophic or deadly episodes. Damages in each medical malpractice case may vary, but potential areas of compensation include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of wage earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses, loss of income/benefits, and loss of consortium (if the failure to diagnose results in wrongful death)
Get in Touch
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries and other losses resulting from a failure to diagnose heart conditions, you may be due substantial financial compensation. We urge you to get in touch at your earliest convenience to discuss your case with medical malpractice lawyer Daniel D. Moody. Call our office at (863) 284-9090 to schedule a personal consultation.