WRITTEN BY ATLEE HALL
After emergency department care providers failed to diagnose congestive heart failure, our client suffered organ damage and is subject to future invasive cardiac procedures.
Through our experts, we were able to show that had our client’s congestive heart failure been promptly diagnosed and treated, his heart would not have sustained the amount of damage that it did. He would have avoided the need for future invasive cardiac procedures.
Our client, then age 22, presented to a local Emergency Department with complaints of shortness of breath and having coughed up pink foam. He was evaluated by an emergency department physician, who suspected that he may be suffering from a pulmonary embolism (PE). The physician ordered a test to rule out a PE.
Before the results of that test came back, the physician went off duty and transferred our client’s care to a different physician. When the results of the test for PE came back negative, that physician discharged our client. No diagnosis was made, and no treatment was provided.
Approximately four months later, our client presented to a different Emergency Department with similar complaints. At that time, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. In the time period within which our client’s treatment was delayed, his heart muscle suffered significant damage.
The client’s care provider being changed before receiving the test results contributed to his delayed diagnosis and cardiac muscle damage.
We consulted with cardiac health experts to show the client could have avoided further health complications if they had received a timely diagnosis and treatment.
The case was resolved prior to trial to our client's satisfaction.
Out team proved that the client’s situation may have turned out differently had he received a prompt diagnosis and treatment. We were able to reach a satisfactory outcome for the client before the case went to trial.
