When faced with symptoms or a patient history that suggests a heart attack, doctors must take those symptoms seriously. Warning signs for a heart attack may entail chest pain spreading to arms, neck and shoulders, along with nausea, and shortness of breath. Sometimes there are gender differences regarding how heart attack and stroke manifest. Warning signs of stroke could include blurred vision, memory loss, and slurred speech, along with numbness. In some cases, it may be appropriate for a health care provider to do a differential diagnosis whereby all potential diagnoses based on the symptoms are explored and tested. If you were harmed by misdiagnosis of a heart attack and stroke, you should discuss your situation with the seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano. We are members of the prestigious Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums and have more than 30 years of experience fighting for injured patients.
Heart Attack and StrokeWarning signs of stroke include slurred speech, numbness, weakness, and memory loss. Unfortunately, doctors may misdiagnose symptoms as indigestion or another condition that is not critical. Furthermore, doctors may misread X-rays, imaging, and other warning signs. When there is a failure to diagnose stroke, a patient may suffer paralysis or locked-in syndrome. Surgical procedures and fractures can result in life-threatening medical emergencies whereby deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism need prompt diagnosis and aggressive medical treatment. A patient may suffer catastrophic consequences as the result of the misdiagnosis.
Consequences of MisdiagnosisWhen doctors fail to diagnose patients’ heart attacks or strokes or make the wrong diagnosis or make other diagnostic errors in the course of treatment, the consequences can be devastating and even possibly fatal. When conditions and illnesses are allowed to progress or spread, it is harder to treat conditions, and sometimes impossible to treat them, even after an appropriate diagnosis is made.
Settlements for Heart Attack and Stroke MisdiagnosisOur lawyers are experienced at negotiating settlements for heart attack and stroke misdiagnosis, but in many cases, defendants are unwilling to provide an appropriate compensation for the harm done. In those cases, discovery, the process by which each side in litigation discovers information, may be protracted, and require extensive strategy to obtain the evidence needed to prove your case.
Unfortunately, in some cases, the medical record is not as well put-together by doctors and medical staff as it could be, or there may be misunderstandings around the record entries, or concealment of certain facts that would help your case. This is why it is crucial to work with seasoned litigators who understand which experts may be able to eloquently persuade the jury that malpractice occurred in connection with your heart attack or stroke.
Often insurance adjustors take a case more seriously when the plaintiff has a knowledgeable attorney who has a reputation for being unafraid to go to trial when defendants do not offer a fair settlement is not offered. It is rare for a substantial settlement to be offered to a plaintiff who goes unrepresented or who doesn’t have counsel with a strong reputation. Even when an attorney has a strong reputation, insurers may drag a case right up to the courthouse steps, or even through several days of trial. It’s important to choose your counsel wisely.
For Best Results, Consult a Seasoned Syracuse Heart Attack LawyerWhen you go to see a doctor, you anticipate that you will be diagnosed and treated in a professional manner. For a wide range of reasons, this doesn’t always happen, particularly in emergency rooms, where conditions may be fast-paced and hectic. Heart attack and stroke can result in serious long-term harm when not caught in a timely manner or misdiagnosed.
If you suffered a heart attack or stroke and suspect medical malpractice, call our seasoned Syracuse attorneys for a consultation. DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Attorneys has more than 30 years of experience seeking best results for injured heart attack and stroke patients in Canandaigua, Lowville, Auburn, Buffalo, Oneida, Utica, Rochester, Albany, Wampsville, Watertown, Herkimer, Oswego, Lyons, Ithaca, Cooperstown, Binghamton, Elmira, and all across Upstate New York. For a free consultation, complete our online form or call us at 833-200-2000.