Emergency rooms have the resources to handle urgent medical situations, but mistakes still happen. One of the most dangerous errors in emergency care involves failing to recognize a heart attack.
This issue leads to serious medical consequences and legal claims. It is important to understand how the ER might fail to recognize a heart attack so you can take legal action for yourself or an affected family member.
Failure to recognize symptoms
Heart attacks do not always have obvious symptoms. Many patients arrive at the emergency room with chest pain, shortness of breath or nausea. Others may report pain in the jaw, arm or back. Emergency room staff must act quickly to assess these symptoms. If they overlook or misread the warning signs, the results can be deadly.
Upholding a standard of care
In Florida, emergency room doctors and nurses must meet a certain standard of care. This means they must follow the same process that a reasonably skilled medical provider would under the same circumstances. When someone shows symptoms of a heart attack, standard care often includes running an electrocardiogram (EKG), checking cardiac enzyme levels and closely monitoring the patient. Overlooking any of these steps can put lives at risk.
Addressing failures to recognize heart attacks
The Florida Department of Health regulates healthcare professionals across the state. If someone believes an emergency room staff member failed to meet proper standards, they may file a complaint. The department may then investigate and take disciplinary action if necessary.
Emergency room mistakes involving heart attacks are not rare. Time plays a key role in survival. Every minute without proper care increases the chance of severe damage or death. Florida hospitals must train emergency staff to recognize early warning signs and act quickly.