Advice For You

Avoidable Heart Attack

We regularly act for clients who have experienced either misdiagnosis of or delay in diagnosing a Heart Attack (sometimes referred to as a myocardial infarction).

The patient’s medical history is critical in diagnosing a heart attack and sometimes may provide the only clue to prompt diagnosis.

Patients with typical acute heart attack usually present with chest pain which has been intense and unremitting for 30 to 60 minutes. It is usually a severe dull gripping or heavy pain in the centre of the chest radiating to the left arm or to the neck.

Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, abnormal pulse, coughing, nausea with or without vomiting and profuse sweating.
Initial evaluation should include obtaining a brief history and performing a focused physical examination. Within the examination, it is important for the medical professional to ask questions characterising the pain and the important associated symptoms and to evaluate the patient’s past history of or risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

GP Practices have clear policies governing the management of patients presenting with these symptoms which should usually mandate an emergency ambulance transfer to the nearest Accident and Emergency department.

Avoidable Heart Attack Compensation Case

Our Medical Negligence Solicitors dealt with a case where the General Practitioner failed to undertake a sufficiently detailed examination of the patient and the patient went on to suffer an avoidable heart attack.

Cases like these highlight the importance of the medical examination undertaken by the first medical assessor, given the potentially devastating consequences of failures of care.

Contact our Medical Negligence Solicitors

If you feel that you or a family member have suffered as a result of a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a Heart Attack, and would like free initial advice please complete the contact form and a Medical Negligence Solicitor will call you back for a free, no-obligation consultation. Alternatively, please call us today on 0161 785 3500.