I went in to the emergency room with chest pain and radiating pain down my arm. I was made to wait in the emergency room waiting room for 6 hours. During the wait, I had a heart attack for which I underwent cardiac catherization. It showed a small blockage that didn't need stents according to cardiologist. I had two stents placed because of accidental damage to Right coronary artery requiring revision with additional two stents to repair damage.
I think the emergency room personnel should have taken my symptoms more seriously, and if they had, I could have avoided serious injury to my heart and arteries. Is the hospital liable for my injuries? Is this a medical malpractice case?
Answer:
It all depends on the circumstances of the treatment, the severity of the symptoms, and whether the standard of care called for more timely diagnosis and treatment. It sounds like the hospital staff, for whatever reason, failed to act appropriately given you condition, and should have recognized the signs of a potential heart attack.
If it can be shown that their lack of treatment was a deviation from the medical standard of care, then the hospital and treating medical professionals can be found negligent and would be held liable for all damages, including the medical costs of the injury, lost income, pain and suffering, future medical expenses and more.
Talk to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer to find out more about your options, and get a medical opinion regarding the treatment of the hospital staff.
Good luck.
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Posted by Elizabeth Smith on 12 May 2010