Over one million people suffer heart attacks each year in the United States.  Nearly half of those victims will end up permanently injured or lose their lives as a result.  So what happens if the symptoms of a heart attack are misdiagnosed by a doctor?  It is one of the most common types of medical malpractice and it can be life altering to say the least.

But why is heart attack misdiagnosis so common?  The answer is simple.  The symptoms of heart attacks often mimic those of other, often non life-threatening conditions.  If a patient isn’t properly examined or a doctor is too quick to diagnose the attack as something it isn’t, the patient could end up suffering further debilitating injury or even death.

Heart attacks are frequently confused with other conditions that have similar symptoms such as:

• Heartburn
• Anxiety attacks
• Angina
• Gallstones
• Bronchitis
• Esophagitis

When a heart attack is misdiagnosed, even if the patient survives the future treatments he receives may fail to reverse the damage caused by the delay in proper medical attention.  Heart attack misdiagnosis brings with it medical disabilities as well as mental and emotional pain and suffering.  The patient is also often left with thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Anyone who has suffered from a doctor’s failure to diagnose their heart attack should consult with a medical attorney.  They may be entitled to monetary award for their injuries, both physical and emotional.  Likewise, families of victims who died as a result of heart attack misdiagnosis have the right to seek justice for their loss.  Speak to an experienced medical lawyer today.