Consequences of Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
With the potential for severe, if not life-threatening, consequences from a promptly-treated heart attack, the consequences of a heart attack going undiagnosed can be devastating. A heart attack patient’s long-term prognosis can be greatly dependent upon the amount of damage sustained; and, the longer it takes to receive a diagnosis, the more damage can occur. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), even a two-hour delay can lead to lasting damage or death.
Oftentimes, patients who survive their heart attacks but do not receive accurate diagnoses will experience long-term, if not permanent, effects including:
- Anxiety and depression
- Arrhythmia
- Heart disease and heart failure
- Increased risk for additional heart attacks
- Chronic chest pain
- Stroke or pulmonary embolism
- Other potentially-serious complications
In many cases, heart attack patients will require regular medical treatment which can lead to exorbitant medical bills, additional time missed from work, stress, and other life-complicating factors. Fortunately, these are all losses for which Colorado law provides just compensation. In order to ensure that you and your family have the financial resources you need to cope with the effects of your doctor’s misdiagnosis, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
