Within the world of medicine, there are different fields and specializations for which each requires a different amount of study and practice. Cardiology refers to every aspect of an individual’s heart. A cardiologist performs all job functions in accordance with their heart, including monitoring it, prescribing medication for heart conditions, overseeing the overall health of their heart, determining a course of action to take, diagnosing heart conditions, among others. They have dedicated their time and education on grasping every little bit of information regarding the human body’s heart. If the cardiologist does not perform their job functions while maintaining a standard of care of high quality, then the patient can endure severe harms, including a wrongful death. They must give their patients adequate care during every aspect of their relationship.
A person’s heart is a delicate organ and one of the most vital organs the human body has. If this organ is weakened or harmed in a way past repair, the victim may never live to see another day. Because it is so important and delicate, not anyone can care for it, only those specialized in that area of medicine. Sadly, no matter how specialized and skilled and cardiologist may be, human error can kick in and medical negligence can occur, despite them being trained to handle and deal with every feature of the heart. Skilled attorneys for cardiologist medical malpractice in Orlando understand and have seen numerous victims who had suffered the irreversible effects of the medical negligence.
When caring for, treating, or overseeing the heart of a patient, a cardiologist will use their expertise, skill, knowledge, experience, and education to ensure that their patients are well taken care of, but when these areas are not properly met, a medical malpractice can surface. In that case, victims must seek the legal assistance of a lawyer who focuses on cardiologist negligence.
Which Types of Tests Do Patients Undergo to Detect a Medical Condition in their Hearts?
A cardiologist will use a number of tests to conclude whether there is a medical condition and if there is, the best course of action to take to treat it. Here are some common tests that are used by cardiologists to diagnose a heart condition in Orlando:
- Biopsies
- Catheterization
- ST- stress tests
- BT- tests of bloodwork
- MRI’S;
- More
Some of these tests are designed to specifically tests for a certain heart condition. If a cardiologist fails to provide all necessary tests, they may fail to diagnose the heart condition.
Which Heart Diseases Exists?
There are many heart conditions that an individual may suffer. Many of these heart diseases may not be diagnosed properly and can be life-threatening. Some diseases include:
- Heart attacks
- Disease of the heart valves
- Disease of the congenital
- Cardiomyopathy
- Arteries becoming narrowed
- Arrhythmia
- Failure of the heart (caused by a number of factors including diabetes, high blood pressure, and more)
- More
Every heart condition is unique to the individual, including the degree of severity, but something that is for sure is that anyone with a heart condition requires a qualified cardiologist to care for them.
How Can a Cardiologist Commit a Medical Negligence?
A cardiologist can commit a number of medical negligences that can lead to medical malpractice. This medical negligence can be the result of the patient’s death or injury. Accountability can fall on the cardiologist when this occurs because they failed at performing their tasks according to the standard of care. A lawsuit for medical malpractice in Orlando can derive from the following circumstances:
- Medical findings not being properly documented: Cardiologists, like any other medical professional, is required to write down every detail and result of their findings of the patient, which builds their medical record. If the cardiologist does not write down every finding, they may forget what the patient has and can lead to the improper treatment of the heart condition, affecting them negatively.
- Not diagnosing a heart condition: When a cardiologist does not diagnose a heart condition that a patient has, they have just committed a medical negligence. Not diagnosing a heart condition means that the patient will not receive the needed treatment for their condition and could possibly cause them to endure devastating repercussions. Cardiologists need to ensure that they take in account all symptoms and perform all adequate tests that another cardiologist would have under that circumstance.
- Results of EKG and Stress tests not being properly read: If suspicions of a possible heart condition are present, a cardiologist will most likely order a stress test of EKG. If the results of these tests are not properly read by the cardiologist, the patient may be told that they are healthy when in fact they have a heart condition that requires treatment. In that case, the cardiologist in Orlando could be found guilty of medical negligence if the patient suffered injuries because they misread the results.
- The incorrect drug being prescribed: Most people with heart conditions are sensitive to many things, this includes the effects of certain medications. A cardiologist must make sure that the medication that they are prescribing their patient does not intervene with their current heart condition because it can have devastating results.
- Not diagnosing a possible heart attack or stroke: Within the United States, heart attacks and strokes affect thousands on a regular basis. In fact, Americans die from heart diseases in the millions annually, making it one of the top killers. When the signs and symptoms of those conditions are not recognized by the cardiologists, the patient may suffer an early loss of life. How is it possible that someone who is practiced and trained in that area does not notice these symptoms and signs? Well, it happens, which is why many people have their upcoming heart attacks go undetected.
These are just some of the many medical negligences that a cardiologist in Orlando can commit that results in a medical malpractice.
Statistics with Respect to Medical Malpractice by a Cardiologist
- Between the year 2007 and 2013, there were 429 medical malpractice claims filed against a cardiologist
- Of those 429 claims, incorrect administration of treatment was composed of 14% of claims
- Of those 429 claims, not diagnosing, wrongly diagnosing, and delay to diagnose were composed of 25% of claims
- Of those 429 claims, inadequate surgery procedure was composed of 11% of claims
- Of those 429 claims, incorrect treatment procedure was composed of 12% of claims; and
- Of those 429 claims, inadequate medication administration was composed of 6% of claims
- 6% of specialists that were sued involved cardiologists
FAQS About Cardiologists Medical Malpractice in Orlando, FL
Question: Are my rights waived once I have signed a consent form?
Answer: When a patient signs a consent form allowing the medical professional to either operate, treat or care for them, they are just stating that they give them permission to do so. Any resulting medical malpractice that is committed during any of those procedures does not mean that it is impeded due to signing this consent form. The victim of a cardiology medical malpractice can still file a lawsuit if a medical negligence took place.
Question: What medical negligence can a cardiologist commit that can result in my injury?
Answer: A heart is a delicate part of the human body, and such delicacy requires meticulous care. When a cardiologist fails to provide that, the patient can suffer a number of injuries. Some medical negligence’s that can surface include not diagnosing a heart condition, not providing the patient with the proper treatment for their heart condition, prescribing a medication that influences their current heart disease, misreading results of tests performed, and more.
Question: Who, aside from the cardiologist can be found liable for my medical malpractice case?
Answer: Aside from the cardiologist, a number of health care practitioners can be found liable for the patient’s injury, including nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, anesthesiologists, and even health services facilities like a hospital.
Question: How will I be able to prove that medical negligence was the cause of my injury?
Answer: In order to have a successful case for medical malpractice, a victim of a medical negligence must first show that the defendant in question had a duty to them, like a patient-doctor relationship. Then, the patient must show how the medical professional was negligent and that their negligent actions led to the patient’s injury. In addition, from the injury, the patient must have suffered damages that they can be awarded for.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers of Cardiology in Orlando, FL Are Here for You
Experienced, skilled, professional, and qualified medical malpractice lawyers in Orlando are here to assist victims who have sought help and only received worse care. If the families of the victim and the victim are now suffering the consequences of the medical practitioner’s negligence, medical negligence lawyers are well-equipped, prepared and most importantly, determined to hold those liable for their medical negligence which led to their client’s damages at the firm of Percy Martinez.