5 Steps to Take If Your Doctor Failed to Diagnose Your Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country. Considering just how prevalent the condition is, it should be one of the first diseases providers look for when a patient presents with even the mildest of symptoms.
Unfortunately, as many families have learned the hard way, this is not always the case. Failing to diagnose heart disease is a fairly common medical mistake—and it often has devastating consequences.
If your doctor overlooked your heart disease, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages that resulted. In order to put together a strong claim, though, you’ll have to take certain steps in the aftermath. Such steps include:
1. Visiting Another Provider
Upon realizing your doctor made a mistake and overlooked something as serious as heart disease, your first priority should be your health. As such, it’s imperative that you seek adequate care elsewhere. Visiting another provider as soon as possible will ensure you receive the treatment you need to keep potentially life-threatening complications at bay.
2. Following All Medical Advice
Personal injury claimants must take reasonable measures to mitigate damages. Therefore, once you do seek care from another physician, make sure follow his or her guidelines diligently. If you’re instructed not to return to work, for example, stay home and take it easy.
3. Starting a Personal Injury Journal
Daily entries about your condition and how it’s affecting your quality of life will help contextualize your medical records. They’ll also serve to demonstrate your non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
4. Preserving Relevant Records
Medical malpractice claims are inherently complex. In order to prove liability, for example, you’ll have to present all kinds of documentation. Examples include hospital logs, diagnostic images, physical evaluations, and prescriptions.
Since these documents may be prone to tampering once the facility realizes they made a mistake, it’s essential to obtain your own copies and give them to your legal team for safekeeping as soon as possible.
5. Seeking Legal Counsel
While it’s possible to take action against a negligent provider or clinic on your own, doing so is unadvisable. Building a winning malpractice claim demands extensive resources. What’s more, you have enough to worry about without having to navigate convoluted legal proceedings.
As long as you turn to a reputable firm, you can expect your heart disease misdiagnosis lawyer to:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into the incident;
- Consult various cardiology specialists;
- Track recoverable damages;
- Handle all correspondence with the opposing party;
- Negotiate for a fair settlement; and
- Prepare your case for court if the insurance carrier proves uncooperative.
Call (727) 821-1500 to Discuss Your Case with a Florida Heart Disease Misdiagnosis Attorney
If your doctor failed to diagnose your heart disease, turn to Emerson Straw for help putting together a medical malpractice claim. Our resourceful team has recovered numerous six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts on behalf of our valued clients. Call (727) 821-1500 or complete the Contact Form on our website to arrange your initial case review with a heart disease misdiagnosis lawyer in Florida.