Under certain conditions, the aorta—the primary artery that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body—can become weakened in a way that allows blood to collect between the middle and outer layers of the aortic wall, creating what is known as an aortic aneurysm. If this aneurysm worsens to the point where the aortic wall tears open completely, the resulting aortic dissection can be extremely dangerous and often deadly, making it essential for doctors to know how to effectively treat both types of medical problems.
If your or your loved one’s doctor failed to address this type of issue as effectively or as quickly as they should have, you may have grounds to file suit over ensuing injuries and losses with a malpractice attorney’s help. Whether you need to recover for harm you personally suffered or seek restitution after a family member’s premature death, a skilled Miami aortic dissection lawyer from Kaire & Heffernan can guide you through the litigation process and ensure you have the best possible chances of case success.
Aortic dissection is a fairly uncommon condition, but it is more likely to happen in older men between 60 and 80 years of age, especially those with preexisting vascular problems such as hypertension, aortic valve defects, and atherosclerosis. When they do occur, aortic dissections often produce broadly similar symptoms to heart attacks, including:
Uncontrolled internal bleeding stemming from an aortic dissection can very quickly lead to death, and even minor dissections or aortic aneurysms can increase the risk of stroke and cause severe organ damage. Any doctor who fails to quickly identify symptoms of an aortic dissection, misdiagnoses the condition as something else, or neglects to provide emergency treatment when necessary may have violated the standard of care they owed their patient. This could serve as valid grounds for a lawsuit, as our Miami aortic dissection attorneys can explain.
If an injured patient files a lawsuit for preventable harm they suffered due to their doctors’ failure to diagnose and treat their aortic dissection properly, they can recover for both economic and non-economic forms damages. This means they can seek restitution for both objective financial losses, such as medical bills and missed work income, as well as subjective personal losses such as physical pain and emotional distress.
If someone is filing suit as the personal representative of a family member who passed away due to aortic dissection malpractice, they can seek recovery for both losses sustained by the deceased person’s estate and losses surviving family members will suffer because of their loved one’s passing. Our Miami lawyers can offer further guidance about compensable damages in aortic dissection malpractice claims during a private initial consultation.
While aortic dissections are thankfully rare, they are extremely dangerous medical emergencies when they do happen. Unfortunately, not every healthcare provider treats this condition with the gravity it deserves, and others negligently fail to diagnose it at all.
If you or a family member was harmed by either of these types of medical misconduct after experiencing this health condition, a Miami aortic dissection lawyer from our firm can help you take legal action. Call Kaire & Heffernan today to discuss your options.
(305) 876-6001