Texas residents may be aware that cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death for women. In fact, one-third of all female fatalities are attributed to cardiovascular disease. Research has found that women are more likely to die within a year after they experience a heart attack than than their male counterparts.
Part of the problem is that it is not usually believed that young women who are otherwise healthy can suffer heart attacks. Data from a Swedish study showed that the reason women were more likely to die within 12 months after experiencing a heart attack is because of the treatment they receive. For example, typical treatment for heart attacks that are caused by blocked coronary arteries include surgery. However, women were 34 percent less likely to undergo such a procedure. Women were also less likely to receive preventative medication than their male counterparts.
The researchers believe that medical professionals may not take heart attacks for women seriously. According to another study, women were more than seven times more likely to be misdiagnosed than men. Further, it is still generally not known that the symptoms of a heart attack are often different for women than for men. The symptoms for women often include cold sweats, abdominal pain and fatigue rather than the classic pain in the chest.
If a doctor makes a misdiagnosis due to negligence or carelessness, it could lead to a worsened medical condition that could end up being fatal. For this to constitute medical malpractice, an attorney representing a plaintiff will need to demonstrate that the error constituted a failure to provide the requisite standard of care.
