Failure to Diagnose Heart Arrhythmia

Have you or someone close to you been injured as a result of a misdiagnosis of heart arrhythmia? If so, you need to reach out to a seasoned Baltimore misdiagnosis lawyer who can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause. We understand that cases involving a failure to diagnose heart arrhythmia can be complicated and daunting, but you can rest assured that we will zealously advocate for your rights throughout each step of your case.

Heart disease is a broad phrase used to describe several different heart conditions, including coronary heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Arrhythmia is an irregularity in the heart rhythm, causing the heart to beat too slowly, too quickly, or in an irregular pattern. This happens because the electrical impulses that coordinate the heartbeats do not work properly. Arrhythmias with heart rates that are slow are called bradyarrhythmias and occur when the heart rate is slower than 50 beats per minute. Arrhythmias with rapid heart rates are called tachyarrhythmias and occur when the heart rate is faster than 100 beats per minute.

Heart arrhythmia is more common than you may think. In the United States, more than 850,000 people are hospitalized for arrhythmia each year. In a recent study, it was also suggested that one in four adults over 40 years old could develop an irregular heartbeat. It is also estimated that 53 per 1,000 people suffer from heart rhythm disorders, and 21 per 1,000 suffer from heart murmurs. The most common symptom of arrhythmia is a rapid heartbeat or fluttering of the chest. Other symptoms of arrhythmia can include the feeling of a slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, light-headedness, palpitations, loss of consciousness, sweating, dizziness, and chest pain.

Correctly diagnosing a heart arrhythmia is critical to maximizing the chances of a positive outcome. Typically, the doctor will listen to the patient’s heart rhythm by using a stethoscope. If the doctor notices anything irregular, the doctor will order an electrocardiogram (EKG) because of its precise accuracy in diagnosing arrhythmias. In addition, doctors have a variety of tests available to accurately detect and diagnose the patient’s medical condition to determine if an arrhythmia is the cause of the patient’s symptoms.

People who have suffered complications due to a negligent failure to diagnose heart arrhythmia on their doctor's part can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the at-fault doctor. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes injuries or death by failing to use the level of care that another medical professional in the same area would have used under the same or similar circumstances. In order to establish medical malpractice, the plaintiff’s lawyer must prove the following: the medical professional owed a duty of care to the patient; the medical professional breached the duty of care by failing to diagnose heart arrhythmia; and the medical professional’s breach was a direct cause of the patient’s harm. Each of the aforementioned elements must be established before any damages can be recovered.

Victims of medical malpractice can recover a variety of damages under Maryland law. Typically, a plaintiff will be able to recover medical bills for procedures, treatments, and surgeries, as well as lost wages due to missed work and pain and suffering. In cases in which a patient dies due to malpractice, the deceased patient’s family may be able to recover wrongful death damages, such as medical expenses incurred prior to the death, funeral costs and burial expenses, and more.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose heart arrhythmia, you may be entitled to compensation. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore attorneys are committed to providing vigorous representation at every step of the way. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns throughout the entire legal process. Call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online to discuss your potential Maryland medical malpractice case in more detail.