QUESTION

father passed away due to heart attack

Asked on Feb 23rd, 2013 on Medical Malpractice - Pennsylvania
More details to this question:
My father went to pcp complaining of shortness of breath he also had a history of clogged arteries pcp sent him home without doing an ekg the following day he had a massive heart attack he passed away two week later i am his only child,do i have the right to file a law suit?
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Personal Injury Attorney serving New Castle, PA
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Yes as a child you have the right to file a law suit.  This may be a case of medical malpractice depending on the examination performed and the testing if any ordered by the PCP.
Answered on Feb 26th, 2013 at 10:43 AM

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Catastrophic Injury Attorney serving Roseland, NJ at John J. Ratkowitz
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According to the American College of Cardiology, when a patient complains of shortness of breath, it may be appropriate to perform an EKG if there is no other explanation for the symptom. Here are the guidelines. Here are the guidelines.  It is a Class IIB recommendation, so there will be some debate about the issue, but in the face of his history I would open a file and request his medical records.  If you want to investigate a malpractice case, you should contact a local medical malpractice attorney (one in your state).  They take these cases on a contingency basis which means you only have to pay if you succeed.  Additionally, initial consultations are usually free. You can use the "Find a Lawyer" service through this website to research medical malpractice attorneys.  Then, visit each attorney's website and look for a firm that has a record of successful verdicts,  ideally with experience in cases that involve your medical issue. If you are unable to find a lawyer who meets these qualifications within your state, sometimes you may contact an out of state lawyer who can refer you to a qualified attorney in your state while providing support related to the issues of medicine. Below are some articles you may find helpful.  They are written for a New Jersey audience (where I practice) but the ideas discussed in these articles usually apply in most other jurisdictions as well. Click here for an article that discusses the three main questions I ask when deciding whether to investigate a potential medical malpractice case. Click here for an article that explains what you can expect when filing a medical malpractice case. Click here and here for more information about me. Please note that by attempting to answer your question, I am not acting as your attorney. I will do nothing further to protect or preserve your interests in the absence of any additional discussion with you about this matter. John Ratkowitz, Esq. Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin, P.C. 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 Office: (973) 830-8441 Cell: (732) 616-6278 Fax: (973) 226-0031 Email: jratkowitz@starrgern.com  Skype: john_ratkowitz Web: www.starrgern.com. 
Answered on Feb 25th, 2013 at 6:21 PM

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