Failure to Diagnose a Heart Arrhythmia

A heart arrhythmia is a condition characterized by irregularities in the heart's rhythm, which can involve the heart beating too fast, too slow, or erratically. These irregularities occur due to problems with the heart's electrical system, which controls the heartbeat. Heart arrhythmias are dangerous because they can impair the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, leading to inadequate blood flow to the body's organs and tissues. As such, the failure to diagnose a heart arrhythmia can lead to extensive lifelong harm, and in many instances, the failure can be fatal. Usually, failures to diagnose heart arrhythmias are caused by negligence, and doctors who carelessly cause their patients to suffer severe injuries may be deemed liable for medical malpractice. If you or a family member suffered losses due to a physician’s reckless failure to diagnose a heart arrhythmia, the skillful Prince George’s County medical malpractice attorneys of Foran & Foran, P.A., can inform you of your potential claims and help you seek the full amount of compensation recoverable under the law.

Arrhythmias can be caused by various factors, including heart disease, electrolyte imbalances, or changes in the heart muscle due to injury or disease. They can result in a range of symptoms, from palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath to more severe consequences such as fainting, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest. Therefore, timely detection and management of heart arrhythmias are critical to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.

Diagnosing arrhythmia involves identifying irregularities in the heart's rhythm through various methods, such as electrocardiograms, Holter monitors, or event monitors. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial, as arrhythmias can range from benign to life-threatening conditions like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or sudden cardiac arrest. A delayed or missed diagnosis of arrhythmia can have severe consequences, leading to inadequate treatment and an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, or cardiac arrest.

For instance, undiagnosed atrial fibrillation significantly raises the risk of stroke due to the formation of blood clots in the atria, which can travel to the brain. Additionally, failure to identify dangerous arrhythmias may result in sudden cardiac death, particularly in conditions such as ventricular fibrillation. Early detection and management are essential to prevent complications, improve patient outcomes, and ensure timely interventions.

A missed or delayed diagnosis often constitutes malpractice. Thus, many people harmed by a physician’s failure to diagnose a heart arrhythmia will seek damages via a civil lawsuit. To obtain a favorable outcome in a medical malpractice lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove liability. In other words, the plaintiff must show that the defendant had a duty to treat the plaintiff in accordance with the standard of care, but the defendant breached the duty, causing the plaintiff to suffer damages.

In Maryland, the standard of care that applies is the treatment or care that a relatively sensible doctor practicing in the same area of medicine as the defendant would provide when faced with similar circumstances. Generally, the standard of care and the manner in which the defendant departed from the standard must be established via expert testimony.

A plaintiff who successfully proves the defendant’s fault will typically be awarded compensation for their economic losses, which generally includes the cost of any necessary medical care, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. They may also be able to recover damages for their intangible harm, like suffering, pain, and emotional and mental trauma.

Undiagnosed heart arrhythmias can lead to life-shattering injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one sustained harm due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose a heart arrhythmia, you could be owed significant damages and should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The proficient Prince George’s County medical malpractice attorneys of Foran & Foran, P.A., are mindful of the devastating losses a healthcare provider’s negligence can cause, and if you hire us, we will work tirelessly to help you seek the best outcome available under the circumstances. Our office is located in Greenbelt, Maryland, and we often represent people hurt by medical malpractice in cases Hyattsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf, La Plata, Silver Spring, Rockville, and other cities in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Charles County, and all counties in the State of Maryland in medical malpractice lawsuits. You can set up a confidential and free conference by contacting us through our form online or by calling us at (301) 441-2022.