Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): What Doctors Sometimes Miss
The team at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC are among the most respected medical malpractice lawyers in Utah. This is because we take time to learn about medical conditions our clients suffer from, which informs our legal strategy and general insight into the causes of negligence in the medical field.
The attorneys at our Salt Lake City, UT, law firm would like to focus on acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which doctors sometimes misdiagnose or fail to properly diagnose.
What Is Acute Coronary Syndrome?
Acute coronary syndrome refers to any condition in which there is reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart, including unstable angina as well as heart attacks.
During a heart attack (myocardial infarction) the cells of the heart die; unstable angina, by contrast, doesn’t lead to immediate heart cell death but increases the risk of future heart attack.
Why Proper ACS Diagnosis Matters
This is a missed opportunity for doctors to identify narrowed arteries in the heart and begin proper treatment to avoid cardiac emergencies later on. The use of stents in treatment can be particularly effective in restoring blood flow.
The Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Common warning signs of ACS include:
- Chest pain
- Chest pain spreading to the upper torso and extremities
- Indigestion
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- Heavy perspiration
- Dizziness and fainting
- Fatigue
Why Do Doctors Misdiagnose Acute Coronary Syndrome?
Doctors are human and sometimes make mistakes. Perhaps the symptoms reported suggest a different and less serious health problem, for instance. Our Salt Lake City malpractice lawyers have worked on many medical misdiagnosis cases in which a doctor didn’t perform the necessary tests.
Examples of Incorrect Diagnosis
Given some of the symptoms involved with ACS, there have been cases of doctors incorrectly mistaking this heart condition for simple heartburn. In these kinds of cases, the failure to diagnose a serious health problem could lead to a life-threatening emergency.
What Could Have Been Done to Prevent a Diagnosis Error?
An electrocardiogram (also known as an EKG or ECG) is a quick and reliable way to monitor the electrical activity of a patient’s heart. Repeating an EKG and noting the results could help doctors identify problems with blood flow as well as the location of the blockage.
An EKG Takes Just a Few Minutes to Perform
EKG tests are not expensive. They aren’t time-consuming or difficult to perform. In fact, an EKG can be completed in about three minutes.
That is the unfortunate reality of these kinds of failed diagnosis cases: a little diligence could have prevented a major health scare or the loss of life.
How Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Can Help
If a doctor misdiagnoses your ACS or a loved one’s ACS, our team can pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek damages. These damages can cover changes to your quality of life as well as the loss of a loved one due to a doctor’s negligence.
Remember, you have two years from the date of the medical mistake to file a malpractice or wrongful death lawsuit in Utah. We encourage you to set up a free case review so that the legal process can be initiated as soon as possible.
Request a Free Consultation
Your initial meeting with us is complimentary and you are not obligated to hire us simply to discuss what happened. This is your opportunity to get legal advice from proven medical malpractice lawyers. To ask questions and to schedule a free case review, contact our law office in Salt Lake City, UT.
