What to do about Misdiagnosis of a Heart Attack

Is misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation awarded when symptoms of an impending heart attack have been explained to a doctor, and the doctor failed to diagnose correctly, only for a heart attack to be suffered later the same week? If so, how much compensation can be claimed?

Eligibility to claim misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation depends on a number of different factors. While it is possible that a claim for misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation can be made in your case – a visit was made to the doctor with symptoms of impending heart attack, a misdiagnosis occurred, and an injury was suffered – a misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation claim needs to be thoroughly assessed before it can be determined whether it was caused by medical negligence.

Claims for misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation can only be made when the misdiagnosis involved a failure in a duty of care to a patient. If it can be demonstrated that a competent doctor would have been able to diagnose symptoms of impending heart attack under the same circumstances, you should have a strong claim for misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation.

An examination of a patient should be accompanied by a check of the patient´s medical history, any family health problems, a patient’s general health and lifestyle, and the age of a patient. All of these factors can have a significant bearing on whether the symptoms presented indicate an impending heart attack, or if they are more likely to be due to another health problem. If a doctor has failed to check all of these factors, it could amount to medical negligence and compensation for misdiagnosis of heart attack can be claimed. 

Claims for misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation will not be possible if a correct diagnosis was unlikely to be made by any medical professional under the same circumstances. However, when it can be proven ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that the misdiagnosis was avoidable, and when a heart attack could have been prevented with the provision of medication, misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation is possible, and a claim will have a good chance of being successful.

If you visited a doctor and angina was not diagnosed, and diagnostic tests were not prescribed, or their results were misinterpreted, you should speak with a medical negligence solicitor for advice about making a claim for misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation at the earliest possible opportunity.

Misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation awards will vary from case to case, depending on the pain suffered and any loss of amenity which have resulted due to an avoidable heart attack. Out of pocket expenses and medical treatment costs caused by the misdiagnosis can also be factored into a compensation claim.  Accurate misdiagnosis of heart attack compensation amounts can be calculated by a medical negligence solicitor after investigating your claim.