Women may have trouble getting treatment for heart attacks

Posted in Medical Malpractice on March 22, 2018

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, women are more likely than to die within one year of a heart attack than men are. This may be because women don’t necessarily get the same care as men. Women in Ohio and elsewhere who are under the age of 50 may be more likely to experience a spontaneous coronary artery dissection. They may be especially harmful because they tend to be incorrectly diagnosed.

One reason is because doctors have a hard time acknowledging that a healthy woman could have a heart attack. Overall, women are 34 percent less likely to have a bypass or stents installed if their heart attack is because of a blocked artery. However, when women were given the same type of treatment as men did, they were just as likely to survive as a man was.

Doctors may treat heart attacks in women differently because of stereotypes regarding heart disease. In the 19th century, heart disease was considered the hallmark of a man who had worked hard throughout his life. However, it is always a good idea to see a doctor after experiencing symptoms that may indicate a heart attack. Research also indicates that women may refuse surgery because they don’t want to be a burden on those around them.

If a heart attack is not diagnosed correctly, it could lead to a worsened medical condition. In some cases, the misdiagnosis could constitute medical malpractice. An attorney representing a patient harmed in such a manner will need to demonstrate that the health care practitioner or facility failed to exhibit the requisite standard of care.