Negligence in Cardiovascular Disease Treatment: Everything You Need to Know
Introduction
Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Proper diagnosis and treatment are fundamental pillars for adequate medical care. However, the reality shows us that, unfortunately, negligence in the treatment of these pathologies occurs frequently, causing severe consequences for affected patients. In this article, as a lawyer specialized in medical negligence, I will analyze in depth the causes, legal consequences, and patients' rights in these situations.
What is Medical Negligence in Cardiovascular Diseases?
Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional acts contrary to the lex artis ad hoc, that is, the expected standard of diligence and medical protocol. In the cardiovascular field, these negligences can involve anything from errors in the initial assessment, delayed diagnoses, incorrect treatment, to not urgently referring the patient to a specialist. A typical example is patients with myocardial infarction symptoms not identified in time in primary care consultations, resulting in the aggravation of the clinical picture.
Common Causes of Negligence in Cardiology
Negligence in cardiovascular treatment can occur at different stages of the care process:
1. Erroneous or Delayed Diagnosis
Diagnostic error, especially in acute pathologies such as acute myocardial infarction or decompensated heart failure, is one of the most severe forms of negligence. The lack of request for tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or cardiac marker analyses can delay decisive treatments.
2. Lack of Protocols and Follow-up
Failure to comply with established clinical guidelines and protocols increases the risk of serious omissions, such as not administering anticoagulants or antiplatelets when indicated, or not performing proper follow-up in patients with chronic diseases like atrial fibrillation.
3. Errors in Medical Treatment
The prescription of inappropriate drugs, dosage errors, or forgetting drug interactions can lead to serious complications or even patient death.
4. Failures in Referral and Urgent Care
Many cases reported in court are related to the lack of urgent referral from primary care to emergency services in cases suspected of acute coronary syndrome.
Consequences for Patients
The consequences of negligence in the cardiovascular field can be extremely severe: disability, heart attack, and death. Not only do physical injuries occur, but also significant psychological and economic repercussions for the patient and their family.
Statistics and Jurisprudence in Spain
In Spain, cases of medical negligence in cardiovascular diseases are recurrent in courts, especially related to inadequate diagnosis of heart attacks. Courts have frequently convicted doctors and healthcare centers for failing to meet minimum care criteria, such as not performing basic tests in the presence of compatible symptoms or delaying care.
Patients' Rights in Case of Medical Negligence
Every patient has the right to quality healthcare and to legally claim in case of negligence. The usual process involves gathering medical documentation, obtaining an expert report, and filing the corresponding administrative claim or civil/criminal lawsuit, depending on the case.
How to Act in Case of Possible Negligence?
1. Request the complete medical record.
2. Contact a lawyer specialized in medical negligence.
3. Request an expert report proving malpractice.
4. Initiate the claim through the appropriate channel.
Conclusions
Negligence in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is, unfortunately, a reality with severe consequences. Informing oneself, preventing, demanding protocols, and claiming against inadequate practices is essential to protect patients' rights and improve the healthcare system.
Sources Consulted
- Recent jurisprudence on negligence in cardiology in Spain.
- National protocols and clinical guidelines from the Spanish Society of Cardiology.
- Public testimonies and verdicts on malpractice cases in acute myocardial infarction.
(Review and expansion with updated sources in process in the next response.)