Missed Diagnosed Heart Attacks Can be Deadly

April 9th, 2008

A missed heart attack diagnosis results in the highest medical malpractice payout among all medical malpractice cases. Every year in the United States, 7 million people go to hospital

emergency rooms

complaining of chest pain or other symptoms that suggest they might be having a heart attack.

When patients enter a hospital or an emergency room, doctors have a professional obligation to perform all the routine tests that will either diagnose heart disease or rule it out. When profit is put ahead of patient care, doctors may not take the required time to do their jobs thoroughly and effectively.

The statistics surrounding heart disease and heart attacks in the U.S. are startling. A heart attack occurs about every 20 seconds, and deaths from heart attacks occur approximately once a minute. Almost 14 million Americans have a history of heart attack or angina (chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood).

Warning signs of a heart attack include:

• Shortness of breath, often occurring at the same time as chest pain but can occur before chest pain, also

• Chest discomfort/pain (squeezing, pressure, or fullness)

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach)

• Cold sweat, nausea, light-headedness

More than 233,000 women die each year from heart disease; yet, most women do not experience chest pain when having a heart attack. Instead, they frequently experience nausea and vomiting, which often leads doctors to misdiagnose a woman’s heart attack as a gastro-intestinal problem. According to recent studies, women waited an average of almost 25 minutes longer than men for clot-buster treatments, which can stop a heart attack. Misdiagnosing a heart attack or a heart condition puts the patient, female or male, at risk for stroke, paralysis and death.

Acute cardiac ischemia (ACI) is a deficiency in the blood supply to the heart muscle. ACI includes heart attack and unstable angina; these conditions are among the most difficult to diagnose for even experienced physicians. Because these conditions go undiagnosed, patients are often discharged from the hospital when they should be admitted for further testing and treatment. Patients not admitted to the hospital are twice as likely to die than patients properly diagnosed, admitted and treated.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the nation, and failure to diagnose a heart attack is the number one medical malpractice mistake in our country. Being aware of the warning signs and what diagnostic options should be made available to you in the hospital may just help save your life.

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Accident, Injury & Settlement Tips - Top 10 Reasons To Make A Free Call To An Attorney First

April 9th, 2008

Most people think they should only call a personal injury attorney as a last resort. Would you only go to the doctor if you don’t get better, or would you want to have your sickness checked out? Here’s the top 10 reasons to make a free call to an attorney BEFORE you do anything else.

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California Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys: What They Can Do for You?

April 9th, 2008

Overview of the Injury

The spinal cord is one of the most important parts of the human body. Any damage or injury can be devastating as it could lead to the permanent paralysis of the victim. In 1995, actor Christopher Reeve suffered from spinal cord injury after falling from a horse. Nevertheless, many other people are suffering from the same condition due to various causes.

A spinal cord injury is characterized by damage to the nerve fibers of the spinal column. These fibers are responsible for transmitting messages from your brain to other body parts. Most spinal cord injuries results from trauma.

In general, the higher is the location of the trauma, the more dangerous it is for the body. High-risk trauma can lead to quadriplegia, which necessitates a ventilator in order for the victim to breathe.

On the other hand, injuries in the lower portion of the spinal cord will have no effect on the normal functioning of the arms and hands but may lead to disorders in the bladder and legs.

Although most of them resulted from trauma, spinal cord injuries are complications of other diseases like polio, cancer, and “spina bifida.”

Causes of Spinal Cord Injury

In California and in some other parts of the U.S., vehicle accidents are the primary cause with close to fifty percent new cases developing yearly. In people aged 65 or over, falls are the number one cause for spinal cord damage. Injuries acquired from sports activities as well as knife and gunshot wounds can likewise trigger spinal cord injuries.

Legal Remedies

If your injury resulted from the negligence of another person, you are eligible to file charges in the proper venue, which is the court. You may hold them liable for the injury and damages that you have incurred as a result of their carelessness.

Moreover, if spinal cord injuries resulted from vehicular accidents, it is unlikely that the driver of the vehicle is not responsible for the injury sustained by the victim. If you can successfully prove this, then the driver as well as their insurance provider should pay for all the damages. Such situation could become complicated and seeking professional help is the best option.

If you are in a similar predicament, it will be worthwhile to consult California spinal cord injury attorneys. They can inform you of your rights and recommend the best course of action to take.

The cost of your expenses can exceed the amount for the medical bills and insurance providers will have second thoughts in taking care of your expenses.

In addition, you may need to undergo long and expensive therapy sessions in an incomplete injury. In the complete kind of damage, you may need to have special gadgets installed in your home or placed in your body to assist you in performing normal functions.

Of course, other expenses may come, which is why it is important to find the best lawyer in California to handle your claim.

Spinal cord injuries can create an immediate change in your life. You can no longer perform normally than usual. Don’t let the collaborators get away. Find lawyers who can ensure that you are rightfully paid.

Pursuing a lawsuit for your personal injury can be undemanding with the assistance of our expert spinal cord injury attorneys. For more details, log on to our website.

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