Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Lawyers
Serving Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and surrounding areas
When it comes to treating a heart attack victim, time is of the essence. Often, a matter of minutes can mean the difference between successful treatment and catastrophic results. With such little margin for error, it is crucial that your doctor quickly and accurately diagnose your heart condition in order to avoid a potentially life-altering injury.
Heart Attack Facts
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in America. It results from a narrowing of the coronary arteries that are responsible for bringing blood to the heart. Often, CHD will lead to a heart attack.
Approximately 1.1 million Americans suffer from heart attacks every year. Of these, roughly 460,000 are fatal, and almost 50% of heart attack fatalities occur within an hour of the victim first noticing symptoms. Therefore, it is important that heart attack victims receive treatment as soon as symptoms develop. Delaying treatment by even one to two hours can result in disastrous consequences.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Heart attacks are frequently tricky to diagnose because their symptoms often resemble many other conditions. It is common for a doctor to misdiagnose a heart attack as heart burn or indigestion.
Some common heart attack symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Jaw pain
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Arm pain
- Stomach pain
- Shortness of breath
- Indigestion
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Light headedness
- Dizziness
Misdiagnosis of a Heart Attack
If you come to the emergency room complaining of any of the above symptoms, your doctor has an obligation to perform the proper tests to either diagnose or rule out a heart attack. The following tests are commonly used to determine the presence of a heart attack:
- Cardiac enzymes
- Electrocardiogram
- EEGs
- EKGs
- Blood tests
- Nuclear scan
- Coronary angiography
- MRIs
- MRAs
- CT scans
If your doctor fails to perform the proper tests to correctly diagnose your heart attack, he may be guilty of medical malpractice. A doctor who is guilty of misdiagnosis of your heart attack puts you at risk for brain damage, paralysis, long-term disability, or death.
Oklahoma Misdiagnosis Lawyers
The attorneys at Stipe Injury Law have a great deal of experience handling heart attack misdiagnosis cases. We understand how to sort through medical records to help you determine if your doctor's treatment was in fact negligent. Our lawyers have the skills, background, and resources necessary to help you achieve the greatest likelihood of success for your medical malpractice claim.
If you have been the victim of misdiagnosis in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, our attorneys can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Please contact the Oklahoma misdiagnosis lawyers at Stipe Injury Law today to schedule your free consultation.
Although medical professionals are required by law to exercise the utmost care, skill and diligence when treating their patients, it is estimated that over 90,000 people every year are either injured or killed due to physician or nurse error. 
When workers are injured, employers and their workers compensation insurance carrier are responsible for providing those employees with the medical care they need as quickly as possible. 
If you are disabled, and can no longer work, the federal government offers disability payments to individuals who qualify under the Social Security Disability Insurance plan. 
