Did you know that the number one killer of women in this country is heart disease? In fact, it claims the lives of nearly 1 in every 4 women. Heart disease is a major problem for US citizens and it is taken seriously by every doctor in the country.
But why are so many women misdiagnosed when they are having a heart attack?
When a person is experiencing a heart attack, they usually feel some kind of chest pain. However, there are many times when chest pain is not present but other symptoms are. It is when these lesser known symptoms are presented when a heart attack is misdiagnosed or even ignored.
A recent study showed that 62% of women presented with three or more non-chest pain symptoms during a heart attack. 53% of those women said that “their healthcare provider did not think the symptoms were heart-related.”
What this means is that doctors, when hearing the symptoms the women are explaining, are diagnosing them with something other than a heart attack, something that can have deadly consequences. Doctors do not do this when it comes to men, at least not as often. At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, we know that a misdiagnosis can be deadly. If you need a Hawaii failure to treat attorney, call us today.
Is This Common?
If we look at the medical landscape in this country, we can see that medical mistakes are a huge concern. In fact, they are the third leading cause of death, killing an estimated 250,000 people annually. The amount injured by these mistakes reaches into the millions.
While many of these mistakes relate to medication errors and infections, Johns Hopkins researchers say that diagnostic errors accounted for the largest fraction of medical malpractice claims. The study’s authors say that“This is more evidence that diagnostic errors could easily be the biggest patient safety and medical malpractice problem in the United States.”
A diagnostic mistake can ultimately lead to a failure to treat. Sometimes this is a heart attack like we discussed in the story above. Other times, it can be cancer that goes undetected. Even something relatively minor that is missed, like early flu detection, can become a major concern for vulnerable patients.
Doctors must always treat their patients with a high level of care, listen to their symptoms, gather their history, and complete the necessary tests. It will save lives.
What You Can Do Now
A misdiagnosis can be a life-altering event. We trust our doctors to treat us to the best of their ability. If a healthcare provider is careless or negligent, it can lead to irreversible harm to their patient. At Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt, P.A. – recovery law center in Hawaii, we are here to help when you need a Hawaii failure to treat attorney. We will work to secure compensation for your medical bills, lost income if you miss work, pain and suffering damages, as well as punitive damages. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 808-736-5035.