Heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States, claiming the lives of over 600,000 Americans each year. This accounts for one in every four deaths. This is true across genders and ethnicities. Every year, more than 750,000 individuals have a first heart attack, and for many of them it will be the only heart attack that they have. Diagnosing heart disease in its earliest stages is key to helping prevent injuries that could claim someone’s life. Unfortunately, doctors who do not do proper or thorough testing can miss the early signs of heart disease.
Is it Medical Malpractice for Doctors to Miss Heart Disease Symptoms?
There are many symptoms of heart disease that a doctor may be able to detect very early on that will allow patients to reduce their risk of heart attacks. This early detection will also allow individuals to protect themselves by taking preventative measures that do not have to go to such extreme lengths as surgery. Earlier detection of heart disease may be able to help prevent heart attacks with less intrusive or invasive preventative procedures. Even doctors who routinely test for certain signs of heart disease may miss early warnings of other kinds of heart disease. There are several different kinds of heart function tests that can be performed. If your doctor only does one while other doctors in the area typically perform more than one, your doctor may be legally responsible if you develop heart disease that he or she did not detect.
How Does a Doctor Explore Heart Disease Risk Factors?
There are several common tests that can show whether a patient has begun to develop heart disease. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a measure of the electrical activity of the heart. An echocardiogram is a sonogram of the heart and can show the actual heart in motion and reveal even more. An angiogram is an x-ray type test that shows how the blood is currently flowing in various blood vessels. Each of these three kinds of tests is slightly more invasive but reveal different types of injuries. A cardiac stress test, where the function of the heart during exercise is monitored, can also reveal performance of the heart. The different kinds of information that a doctor can learn because of each of these kinds of tests are very important because no one test alone can give a full picture of the functioning of the heart and the blood vessels.
Do you need a RI Medical Malpractice Attorney?
If you or a loved one have suffered because of misdiagnosed heart disease that led to serious injuries, you may want to speak with a RI attorney regarding a potential claim. d’Oliveira & Associates, Rhode Island personal injury lawyers, are working with some of the leading lawyers handling Medical Malpractice.
Please contact the law offices of d’Oliveira & Associates at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.
d’Oliveira & AssociatesProvidence, RI 02909
Phone: (401) 831-8600
Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
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