A misdiagnosed heart attack can be an extremely serious risk. Often, prompt medical attention is necessary when someone is experiencing a heart attack. Without it, they could die even if they have been rushed to an emergency medical center.
For example, a woman may arrive at the emergency room complaining that she believes she is having a heart attack. The doctor may ask her about her symptoms and determine that he thinks she is just having an anxiety or panic attack. He may send her home with instructions to get some rest and focus on hydration. However, she passes away – because she was having a heart attack the entire time.
Why do doctors misdiagnose some women’s heart attacks?
The main reason that some heart attacks aren’t correctly diagnosed is simply that the doctor makes a mistake when assessing the patient’s symptoms. The doctor may not believe that what the patient is describing indicates a heart attack and therefore makes an incorrect diagnosis.
However, the reason for the gender-based discrepancy is that men and women often have different heart attack symptoms. Men frequently experience shortness of breath and chest pain that radiates down their arm. Many women do not report that, but instead describe fatigue, nausea, neck pain and other symptoms that don’t necessarily point to a cardiac issue.
If a doctor is only looking for chest pain, this could lead to the misdiagnosis of a woman’s heart attack. The real issue is that the doctor is looking for male heart attack symptoms rather than considering the broader range that women often experience.
Seeking financial compensation
If you have lost a loved one due to a doctor’s error, you and your family may deserve substantial compensation for lost future earnings, funeral and burial costs and more. Be sure you understand your legal options.