A missed or delayed heart attack diagnosis can turn a treatable emergency into a life-changing injury or death. You may be facing permanent heart damage and lost income, or the loss of someone you love. Our Orlando heart attack misdiagnosis lawyer could review what happened and explain whether the care fell below accepted medical standards.
At Colling Gilbert Wright, also known as The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers, we represent patients and families in serious medical malpractice claims. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers examine the full course of treatment rather than one isolated decision. Many of our cases come from referrals by other attorneys who trust us with complex litigation. We also handle the communications with insurers so your family can focus on recovery.
How Can a Heart Attack Be Misdiagnosed?
Heart attack symptoms do not always appear as sudden, crushing chest pain. A patient may report shortness of breath, nausea, unusual fatigue, and jaw or back pain, and the warning signs can present differently in women and older adults. A provider may make a dangerous error by assuming the problem is anxiety or indigestion without completing an appropriate cardiac evaluation.
When handling a heart attack misdiagnosis claim in Orlando, our attorneys must determine what a reasonably careful provider should have done. That review may include whether the team ordered an electrocardiogram and responded promptly to worsening symptoms. We work with qualified medical professionals to explain how an avoidable delay affected your outcome.
Proving Medical Negligence and Causation
A poor result alone does not establish malpractice. Under Florida Statutes § 766.102, you generally must show that a health care provider failed to meet the prevailing professional standard of care and that this failure caused your injury. In a delayed heart attack diagnosis case, the central question often becomes whether earlier testing and catheterization would probably have prevented additional harm.
We build that connection through medical records and emergency department notes, supported by testimony from appropriate medical professionals. The defense may argue that the heart damage would have occurred even with proper care, so our Orlando legal team prepares a detailed timeline showing what treatment opportunities were lost due to the misdiagnosis. Because these claims hinge on timing, we reconstruct the hours around the missed diagnosis to show when intervention would still have made a difference. The consequences may include permanent cardiac impairment and reduced earning capacity, and when a patient dies, eligible survivors may have a wrongful death claim.
State Pre-Suit Requirements Demand Early Investigation
The state requires specific steps before filing a medical negligence lawsuit, including a reasonable investigation supporting a good-faith belief that negligence occurred. Under Fla. Stat. § 766.106, a claimant must also serve a presuit notice before filing suit, which begins a screening period and an exchange of information.
These requirements make prompt legal review important. Fla. Stat. § 95.11 generally provides a two-year limitations period for medical malpractice actions. Limited exceptions apply, and the two-year period can begin when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Our heart attack misdiagnosis attorneys in Orlando can preserve records and coordinate the required medical review before those deadlines pass. Our firm brings decades of successful litigation experience and prepares each serious claim with trial in mind rather than operating as a settlement mill.
Contact Our Orlando Attorneys About a Heart Attack Misdiagnosis Case
You deserve a clear explanation when preventable diagnostic failures cause permanent heart damage or take a loved one’s life. The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers could manage the medical review and litigation while keeping you informed at every stage.
An Orlando heart attack misdiagnosis lawyer from our team is here to listen to your concerns and discuss practical next steps. Contact us for a free consultation. You pay no attorney fees or case costs unless we recover compensation for you.