Heart disease is and has been the number one cause of death nationwide for many years. An early and correct diagnosis is crucial for treating and managing heart disease symptoms. On the other hand, failure to diagnose heart disease can have catastrophic, often fatal outcomes.
It’s vital to hold doctors accountable when they negligently fail to diagnose heart disease, and Dell & Dean, PLLC, can fight on your behalf for fair compensation. Our Garden City, NY, failure to diagnose lawyers have represented Long Island’s injured since 1992, and we often work with a trauma surgeon and consulting radiologist to fully understand your injuries. Our team speaks multiple languages, including Spanish, and we’re available 24/7 to answer your questions or concerns. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
Types of Heart Disease Diagnosis Errors
There are multiple ways doctors can fail to properly diagnose heart disease, including:
- Misdiagnosis – Doctors sometimes mistake heart disease symptoms for less serious problems like indigestion, anxiety, or muscle pain. These false diagnoses frequently lead to incorrect treatments and can delay patients from receiving critical care.
- Failure to Recognize Atypical Symptoms – Not all heart disease symptoms look the same, particularly in women or older adults. Ignoring uncommon signs of heart disease, like fatigue, nausea, or jaw pain, may cause doctors to overlook heart issues.
- Delayed Diagnosis – Waiting too long to order tests or refer a patient to a specialist can mean that heart disease goes undetected until it becomes life-threatening.
- Inadequate Testing – Relying on basic tests or skipping more accurate procedures, like stress tests or cardiac imaging, may lead to an incomplete picture of the heart’s condition.
- Ignoring Patient History – A doctor who fails to consider a patient’s family history, lifestyle, or previous symptoms might miss key warning signs of heart disease.
Proving Malpractice in a Failure to Diagnose Heart Disease Case
To prove medical malpractice in a case involving a missed heart disease diagnosis, you and your legal team must show that the doctor failed to act as a similarly trained, reasonably skilled, and careful professional would have under similar circumstances. That means proving the doctor either ignored warning signs, misread test results, or failed to order the right tests in the first place. You must also show that the doctor’s mistake directly caused you harm, such as a heart attack, worse symptoms, or the need for more aggressive treatment.
Some helpful types of evidence to support your claim may include:
- Your medical records, including results from diagnostic tests your doctor ordered
- Expert opinions from other doctors
- Notes from your hospital visits
- Witness statements from your family, friends, or caregivers
Potential Compensation in a Failure to Diagnose Heart Disease Case
Unlike many states, New York does not limit your compensation in medical malpractice cases, including claims related to a failure to diagnose heart disease. With proper legal support and thorough evidence, your claim could include compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses related to your misdiagnosis
- Lost income while you heal
- Reduced future earnings if your symptoms prevent you from returning to your job
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and reduced quality of life due to your symptoms
How Our Failure to Diagnose Heart Disease Lawyers Can Help You
At Dell & Dean, PLLC, we understand how frightening and frustrating it is to suffer because a doctor missed the signs of heart disease. Our legal team can investigate your case, gather your medical records, consult expert witnesses, and build a strong claim to show how the misdiagnosis harmed you. We’ll handle every step, from filing paperwork and negotiating with insurance companies to taking your case to court if necessary. While we’re based in Garden City, we represent clients throughout Long Island and New York. Call now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.
