Claire Levene
Solicitor
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Solicitor | Medical Negligence
Medical Negligence – Delay in Diagnosing a Heart Attack
A delay or mistake in diagnosing and treating heart-related conditions, including heart attacks, can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences. When the standard of medical care falls short, it may be possible to pursue a claim for compensation.
What Is a Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)?
The clinical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction (MI). The myocardium is the muscular layer of the heart wall, and an infarction occurs when the blood supply to part of the body is obstructed, typically due to a blood clot. A myocardial infarction happens when a clot blocks blood flow to the heart muscle.
Recognising the Symptoms of a Heart Attack
According to the NHS, common symptoms include:
- Chest pain – pressure, heaviness, tightness, or a squeezing sensation
- Pain radiating to other areas – arms (often left, sometimes both), jaw, neck, back, or abdomen
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Extreme anxiety
- Coughing or wheezing
Symptoms can vary significantly. Some people experience intense pain, while others may feel only mild discomfort resembling indigestion.
Women, in particular, are more likely to have less typical symptoms, such as breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, or pain in the jaw or back.
Risk Factors for Heart Attacks
Certain factors increase the likelihood of a heart attack, including:
- Existing heart or vascular conditions
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Family history of heart disease
- Recreational drug use
Why Early Diagnosis Is Vital
A heart attack is a medical emergency. Prompt recognition and treatment can greatly reduce heart damage and improve survival rates.
Delays in diagnosis or treatment can have devastating outcomes, potentially leading to permanent injury or death.
Examples of Medical Negligence in Heart Attack Cases
Clinical negligence relating to cardiac care may occur in situations such as:
- GP failing to refer a patient with chest pain or warning signs
- Ambulance delays or failure to attend promptly
- Delays in triage or assessment in Accident & Emergency (A&E)
- Incomplete or inaccurate medical history-taking
- Failure to carry out an ECG (electrocardiogram)
- Inadequate monitoring of vital signs, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation
- Misinterpretation of ECG results or other diagnostic tests
- Incorrect diagnosis (e.g. mistaking cardiac symptoms for indigestion)
- Delays in urgent procedures such as stenting or angioplasty
Seeking Legal Advice After a Delayed Heart Attack Diagnosis
If you or a loved one have suffered harm due to a delayed or missed diagnosis of a heart attack, it’s important to seek legal advice.
Our specialist medical negligence solicitors have acted for clients who suffered avoidable injury, and for families who lost loved ones, because of a failure to diagnose or treat heart attack symptoms in time.
To find out more or to speak to a member of our team, please call 0151 306 3694.
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