Cardiology Errors

Cardiology malpractice can fall into the areas of failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis or mistreatment. The first two can lead to mistreatment or failure to treat, either of which can have serious, sometimes fatal, consequences.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Heart attacks cause about one of every six deaths in this country. When cardiologists or cardiac surgeons make mistakes, these can worsen the heart patient’s disease or increase their danger of a heart attack or death.

Cardiology is a major area of medical malpractice because of the serious consequences of mistakes when treating or failing to treat heart problems. Failure to diagnose a heart attack can be fatal. The major signs of a heart attack include the following symptoms, often occurring in clusters:

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

Heart Attack Treatment

The goal for treating a heart attack victim once the heart attack occurs is to begin treatment within 90 minutes. Therefore a patient’s best chances for recovery and survival depend upon the patient knowing what to do in the event of a heart attack, and the hospital and health care personnel being prepared to receive a heart attack victim and follow an established protocol for diagnosing and treating the heart attack patient.

Hospitals have protocols established for treating suspected heart attack patients once they enter the hospital. Some essential steps in this protocol include:

An electrocardiogram to determine if there really is a heart attack
Blood test to diagnose the heart attack by identifying certain enzymes in the blood stream
Oxygen to the oxygen-starved heart muscle
Nitroglycerin to relieve the workload on the heart
Aspirin to thin the blood and reduce inflammation in the heart
Morphine to relieve pain and the workload on the heart
A drug to break up blood clots such as tissue plasminogen activator
Possibly cardiac catheterization or a coronary artery bypass graft to restore blood flow to the heart

If someone believes they are having a heart attack, the most important thing to do is to call 911. Most major metropolitan areas reach a person’s residence within ten minutes. Medical care can then begin immediately, even before the patient reaches the hospital. And, when the patient does get to the hospital, they have a staff waiting to receive them.

Driving yourself or someone else to the hospital is a mistake. Treatment is delayed by waiting in traffic without treatment being started and waiting in the emergency department waiting room. There is the saying “time is muscle.” The less time that treatment begins following a heart attack, the more heart muscle that can be saved.

When Treatment Falls Short

Heart attacks require immediate attention. Other types of cardiovascular disease, however, may need care but not necessarily emergency treatment. A doctor’s ability to diagnose the type of heart disease and prescribe the right type of treatment is therefore essential to treating a potentially severe, sometimes fatal problem.

Consult a Connecticut Cardiology Error Lawyer

If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed by improper medical care, you should contact a lawyer who has experience in helping patients who were subjected to cardiology errors. The Connecticut medical malpractice attorneys at The Berkowitz Law Firm are experienced in helping patients recover damages for receiving inappropriate medical care for the heart.

You can reach a Connecticut cardiology error lawyer by calling (866) 314-9352 or by sending us an email.

Stamford, CT Office

1010 Washington Blvd.
9th Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901

Phone: 866-314-9352
Fax: 203-324-5067

Danbury, CT Office

57 North Street Suite 206
Danbury, Connecticut 06810-5627

Phone: 203-730-1100

Bridgeport, CT Office

855 Main Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604

Phone: 203-331-1940

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