Medical malpractice lawyers for the family of a man who died as a result of a heart attack have filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit against Delray Medical Center and two doctors who treated him less than three days prior to his death.

Lazaro Rodriguez, a 40-year-old father of two sons, was treated for chest pain on January 12, 2011 at Delray Medical’s ER and diagnosed with a heart attack by the ER doctor. His case was assigned to two specialists, a radiologist and a cardiologist. The radiologist then misread results of the man’s coronary CTA and reported them as normal. A CTA is a type of X-ray that can identify heart problems such as blocked arteries that could lead to a heart attack. Results of Mr. Rodriguez’s CTA were actually abnormal.

Following the inaccurate report from the radiologist, Mr. Rodriguez’s treating cardiologist then stopped his cardiac medications and discharged him from the hospital two days later on January 13, 2011 with only aspirin and ibuprofen. When he was released, Mr. Rodriguez had elevated levels of troponin, a protein that indicates heart trauma such as a heart attack. Two days later, he went into cardiac arrest while at home. His wife attempted CPR and called 911, but was unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Emphasize the Importance of Properly Diagnosing and Treating a Heart Attack

A heart attack is a life-threatening condition that must be immediately diagnosed and treated. Errors or incidents of negligence in hospital emergency rooms or physician offices in diagnosing or treating a heart attack can result in additional injuries or death. Patients who are experiencing symptoms that may be related to a heart attack should immediately be given a blood test, an EKG (electrocardiogram) or some other diagnostic test which will reveal if a heart attack has occurred or may occur.

Typical symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain—varying in degree of severity. Chest pain may be accompanied by extreme sweating, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, stomach pain, lightheadedness or upper body pain. If you experience symptoms in the chest which may be related to heart attack, you should seek medical attention right away and ask for an EKG, blood test, or some other diagnostic test. Do not leave the hospital if you are still experiencing pain, or feel you have not received proper medical treatment.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Philadelphia and New Jersey

The Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling cases involving medical malpractice cases resulting from cardiac errors, including misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a heart attack. Our extremely skilled team of medical malpractice lawyers and medical experts are dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries as a result of a medical error in failing to diagnose or treat a heart attack or any other type of negligent care received by a medical provider, contact the medical malpractice lawyers of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.