Medical Malpractice - Heart Attack Misdiagnosis

In the United States, leading cause of death is coronary artery disease, or narrowing of arteries supplying blood to the heart. This condition often results in a heart attack. In fact, about 1.1 million Americans suffer heart attacks every year, and about 460,000 of these attacks are fatal. In some cases, a heart attack kills almost instantly. Nothing could be done to save the victim.

However, in other cases, timely diagnosis could make the difference between life and death. Some heart attack victims who get proper treatment right away may have an opportunity to avoid serious heart damage and resume a normal life. Too often, medical mistakes deprive an individual of this opportunity. Medical staff at the doctor's office or emergency room ignores complaints of chest pains and other key symptoms, makes the individual wait to see a doctor, or sends the person away without complete testing and proper treatment.

In that situation, the prospects for the victim are grim. Even if the individual survives, future treatment may not reverse the heart damage, or other consequences of the blocked artery, like paralysis or brain damage.

Some of the medical mistakes that a doctor may make in responding to a heart attack victim include:

• Failure to take seriously a patient's complaints
• Failure to notice or understand the nature of a patient's symptoms
• Failure to order the proper tests
• Failure to properly read or interpret test results
• Failure to refer a patient to a specialist for further testing or treatment

As soon as a potential heart attack victim arrives at the hospital, medical staff should provide essential emergency care. Doctors also may conduct tests to make a complete diagnosis and determine the proper treatment. These tests include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This is a graphic record of the electrical activity of the heart as it contracts and relaxes. The EKG can detect abnormal heartbeats, some areas of damage, inadequate blood flow, and heart enlargement.
• Blood test. A blood test will be done routinely to check for enzymes or other substances that are released when cells begin to die. These are "markers" of the amount of damage to the heart.
• Nuclear scan. This test shows areas of the heart that lack blood flow and are damaged. It also can reveal problems with the heart's pumping action. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein, usually in the arm. A scanning camera positioned over the heart records whether the nuclear material is taken up by the heart muscle (healthy areas) or not (damaged areas). The camera also can evaluate how well the heart muscle pumps blood. This test can be done during both rest and exercise, to enhance the usefulness of its results.
• Coronary angiography (or arteriography). This test is used to check blockages and narrowed areas inside coronary arteries. A fine tube (catheter) is threaded through an artery of an arm or leg up into the heart. A dye that shows up on X ray is then injected into the blood vessel, and the vessels and heart are filmed as the heart pumps. The picture is called an angiogram or arteriogram.

Based on the test results, doctors should determine and then provide the appropriate course of medical treatment.

Watch for signs of a possible heart attack.

Sometimes, a heart attack goes untreated through no fault of a physician. To protect yourself, you need to take care of your own health and get regular medical check-ups.

Moreover, you need to watch out for the signs of a possible heart attack, which include:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

• Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort, but also can occur before chest discomfort.

• Other symptoms. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

Unfortunately, many people who experience heart attack symptoms delay getting medical attention. They try to find other reasons for feeling badly, like have a hard day at work or eating a heavy meal, decide to rest, and wait for the symptoms to go away. Do not make this mistake -- it could be deadly. To be most effective, treatments for a heart attack are needed right away, within 1 hour of the start of the symptoms. If you or a family member has signs of a heart attack, call 9-1-1. Get the person to a hospital immediately.