Failure to Diagnose Arrhythmias Medical Malpractice in Chicago

A cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormal change in the regular beat of the heart. It may include irregular heartbeats, skipped beats, rapid heartbeats (tachycardia), or slow heartbeats (bradycardia). When a doctor in a Chicago emergency room or clinic fails to recognize this condition, the consequences can be severe, including stroke, heart failure, or sudden death. Patients across Chicago, from neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Pilsen to the suburbs along the I-290 corridor, trust their doctors to catch these warning signs. When that trust is broken through medical negligence, the law provides a path to accountability. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, located at 205 W Randolph St., Suite 925, Chicago, IL 60606, helps patients and families pursue justice when a missed arrhythmia diagnosis causes serious harm.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Cardiac Arrhythmia and Why Is It So Easy to Miss?
• How Doctors Fail to Diagnose Arrhythmias and What That Negligence Looks Like
• The Legal Standard for Failure to Diagnose Arrhythmias in Illinois
• Filing Deadlines You Cannot Afford to Ignore Under Illinois Law
• Damages You Can Recover in an Arrhythmia Malpractice Case in Illinois
• Why Chicago Patients Trust Briskman Briskman & Greenberg With These Cases
• FAQs About Failure to Diagnose Arrhythmias Medical Malpractice in Chicago

What Is a Cardiac Arrhythmia and Why Is It So Easy to Miss?

An arrhythmia is when the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or in an irregular way. The heart’s electrical system controls this rhythm. When that system malfunctions, the result can range from a minor nuisance to a life-threatening emergency. Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib or AF, is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. Other serious forms include ventricular tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and bradycardia.

There are many types of arrhythmias, depending on what part of the heart is affected and whether they cause a slow, fast, or irregular heart rate. Arrhythmias may happen in the atria (upper chambers of the heart) or the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). Atrial fibrillation significantly increases the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular problems if not managed promptly.

One major reason arrhythmias get missed is that their symptoms often look like something else entirely. One of the challenges in clinical practice is differentiating between cardiac arrhythmias and psychiatric disorders, such as panic attacks, as their symptoms often overlap. A patient who comes into Northwestern Memorial Hospital or Rush University Medical Center reporting a racing heart, dizziness, or shortness of breath may be sent home with a diagnosis of anxiety, dehydration, or stress. That kind of dismissal, when it falls below the accepted standard of care, can form the basis of a medical malpractice claim.

Up to 5 out of 100 people may have arrhythmias. Some don’t have symptoms, which makes it difficult to know how many people actually have this condition. That reality places a greater responsibility on physicians to order appropriate diagnostic testing, including electrocardiograms (ECGs) and cardiac monitoring, when a patient’s clinical picture raises any concern. Failing to order those tests when they are clearly indicated is a common form of negligence in arrhythmia cases.

How Doctors Fail to Diagnose Arrhythmias and What That Negligence Looks Like

Medical negligence in arrhythmia cases takes several recognizable forms. Each one represents a departure from what a reasonably competent physician would have done under the same circumstances. Understanding these failures helps patients recognize when something went wrong with their care.

The most common failure is not ordering an ECG. An ECG records the heart’s electrical activity and is the primary tool for detecting arrhythmias. This report underscores the importance of considering cardiac arrhythmias in patients presenting with palpitations, anxiety, and chest discomfort, which may mimic psychiatric conditions even in the absence of abnormalities on initial cardiac workup. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial to avoid delays in appropriate treatment and prevent unnecessary psychiatric interventions. When a doctor skips this step, a dangerous arrhythmia like SVT or ventricular tachycardia can go undetected for months or even years.

A second failure is misreading the ECG results that were ordered. Interpreting an ECG requires training and attention. A physician who fails to interpret ECG results correctly, or who hands off that responsibility without proper follow-up, puts the patient at serious risk. This type of error is closely connected to broader cardiology malpractice patterns seen in Chicago hospitals.

A third failure involves not referring the patient to a cardiologist or electrophysiologist when symptoms clearly warrant it. A primary care doctor in Wicker Park or a family medicine physician in Bridgeport who repeatedly sees a patient complaining of palpitations and fainting but never orders cardiac monitoring or a specialist referral has likely breached the standard of care. Failure to refer to a specialist is a recognized and actionable form of medical negligence under Illinois law.

Finally, some cases involve a failure to follow up on abnormal test results. A Holter monitor or event monitor may capture an arrhythmia, but if no one reviews the results or contacts the patient, the diagnosis never happens. That communication breakdown can be just as harmful as never ordering the test at all. As a Chicago personal injury lawyer familiar with these cases knows, each of these failures can independently support a malpractice claim.

The Legal Standard for Failure to Diagnose Arrhythmias in Illinois

Illinois medical malpractice law requires a patient to prove four things: that the doctor owed a duty of care, that the doctor breached that duty, that the breach caused harm, and that the patient suffered real damages as a result. This framework applies directly to arrhythmia misdiagnosis cases. A misdiagnosis becomes medical malpractice in Illinois if you are harmed due to a medical provider’s failure to meet the established standards of care.

Illinois also has a specific procedural requirement before a malpractice case can be filed. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-622, the Healing Art Malpractice statute, a plaintiff must attach an affidavit to the complaint stating that a qualified health professional reviewed the case and determined there is a reasonable and meritorious cause for the lawsuit. That reviewing professional must be knowledgeable in the relevant area of medicine and must have practiced or taught in that area within the last six years. This requirement exists to filter out claims without legitimate medical support, and it means that building a strong arrhythmia malpractice case starts with a thorough medical review well before any lawsuit is filed.

When an arrhythmia goes undiagnosed and a patient dies as a result, the family may have a wrongful death claim under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, 740 ILCS 180. This law allows surviving family members to recover damages when a wrongful act, neglect, or default causes a person’s death. In arrhythmia cases, this often applies when a missed diagnosis of ventricular fibrillation or another lethal rhythm leads to sudden cardiac death. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer can evaluate whether the facts support a wrongful death claim alongside or instead of a personal injury claim.

Filing Deadlines You Cannot Afford to Ignore Under Illinois Law

Illinois sets strict time limits on medical malpractice claims, and missing them can permanently end your right to compensation. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212(a), an Illinois medical malpractice action generally must be brought within two years after the claimant knew, or through reasonable diligence should have known, of the injury or death for which damages are sought.

That two-year clock does not always start on the day of the missed diagnosis. The Illinois Supreme Court in Moon v. Rhode (2016 IL 119572) confirmed that discovery requires dual knowledge. Awareness of an adverse medical outcome alone is insufficient; the limitations period begins only when the plaintiff has reason to connect the injury to negligent medical care. So if you suffered a stroke in 2024 because an arrhythmia was missed in 2023, the clock may start when you learned, or reasonably should have learned, that the missed diagnosis caused your stroke.

There is also an absolute outer limit. Section 13-212(a) says that, except as provided in Sections 13-215 or 13-215.1, the action may not be brought more than four years after the act, omission, or occurrence alleged to have caused the injury or death. This is called the statute of repose. It applies even if you did not discover the connection to negligence until later. For minors, 735 ILCS 5/13-212(b) allows more time: generally up to eight years after the act or omission, but not after the minor’s 22nd birthday.

These deadlines make timing critical. If you believe a missed arrhythmia diagnosis harmed you or a loved one, contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Evidence like ECG records, Holter monitor results, and physician notes becomes harder to obtain and preserve as time passes. The attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review your case and help you understand where you stand before any deadline closes.

Damages You Can Recover in an Arrhythmia Malpractice Case in Illinois

When a doctor’s failure to diagnose an arrhythmia causes serious harm, Illinois law allows the injured patient to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Damages you can claim for medical misdiagnosis include medical expenses, lost income, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. In arrhythmia cases, these damages can be substantial, especially when the missed diagnosis leads to a stroke, heart failure, or cardiac arrest.

Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document. These include past and future medical bills for treatment that became necessary because the arrhythmia was not caught in time, lost wages if you missed work during recovery, and the cost of long-term care or rehabilitation. A patient who suffered a stroke near Millennium Park because a doctor failed to diagnose AFib may face years of physical therapy and ongoing medication costs.

Non-economic damages cover the human toll of the injury. Chronic heart problems, reduced physical capacity, anxiety about recurrence, and the loss of activities you once enjoyed are all compensable. Illinois does not cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, which means your full losses can be presented to a jury without an artificial ceiling cutting off your recovery.

When a loved one dies from an undiagnosed arrhythmia, the family can pursue wrongful death damages under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act. These may include compensation for the loss of financial support, the loss of companionship, and the grief and suffering caused by the death. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can work with financial and medical experts to calculate the full value of your claim and present it effectively.

Why Chicago Patients Trust Briskman Briskman & Greenberg With These Cases

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has represented injured patients and grieving families throughout the Chicago area for decades. The firm handles complex medical malpractice claims, including cases where arrhythmias were missed, misread, or ignored by emergency room physicians, cardiologists, and primary care providers. The firm’s approach is straightforward: investigate the facts, work with qualified medical experts, and fight for the full compensation the client deserves.

The firm serves clients from communities across the Chicago area, including those who received care at hospitals near Lake Shore Drive, in the South Loop, or along the Blue Line corridor through Oak Park and Forest Park. No matter where the negligence occurred, the legal team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can step in and build a case.

Illinois requires that every malpractice complaint be supported by a qualified expert’s written report under 735 ILCS 5/2-622. The firm has the resources and professional relationships to obtain those expert reviews efficiently, so your case starts on solid ground. If the evidence supports your claim, the firm will pursue it aggressively, whether through settlement negotiations or trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Failure to diagnose an arrhythmia is not an isolated event. It connects to broader patterns of diagnostic negligence, including failures to order appropriate testing, failures to refer patients to specialists, and failures to communicate critical test results. An medical malpractice attorney at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg understands how these failures connect and how to build a case that captures the full picture of what went wrong. Call (312) 222-0010 today for a free consultation.

FAQs About Failure to Diagnose Arrhythmias Medical Malpractice in Chicago

What symptoms should have prompted my doctor to test me for an arrhythmia?

Doctors should consider arrhythmia testing when a patient reports palpitations, a racing or fluttering heartbeat, dizziness, fainting or near-fainting, unexplained fatigue, or chest discomfort. These symptoms, especially when recurring, should trigger an ECG and possibly a Holter monitor or event monitor. A doctor who dismisses these complaints without ordering cardiac testing may have fallen below the standard of care, particularly if the patient had risk factors like high blood pressure, a prior heart condition, or a family history of cardiac disease.

Can I sue a hospital in Chicago if an emergency room doctor missed my arrhythmia?

Yes, in many cases you can. Illinois law allows patients to bring claims against hospitals when employed physicians or staff act negligently in the course of their duties. Even when the treating doctor is technically an independent contractor, hospitals can sometimes be held liable under the legal theory of apparent authority, meaning the hospital held the doctor out as its agent in a way that led you to reasonably believe you were receiving the hospital’s care. An attorney can review the specifics of your situation to determine who the proper defendants are in your case.

What if my arrhythmia was missed years ago? Have I lost my right to sue?

Not necessarily. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212(a), the two-year filing period begins when you knew, or reasonably should have known, that an injury was connected to medical negligence, not simply when the missed diagnosis occurred. However, Illinois also imposes a four-year statute of repose, meaning no claim can be filed more than four years after the negligent act, regardless of when you discovered it. If you only recently connected your health problems to a missed arrhythmia diagnosis, contact an attorney right away to evaluate whether your claim is still timely.

How do I prove that a missed arrhythmia diagnosis caused my injury?

Proving causation in an arrhythmia malpractice case requires showing two things. First, that the doctor’s failure to diagnose fell below the accepted standard of care. Second, that this failure directly caused your injury, meaning that a timely diagnosis would have led to treatment that prevented the harm you suffered. This is established through medical records, ECG and monitoring data, and the testimony of qualified medical experts. Illinois requires that expert support be documented before a lawsuit is even filed, under the affidavit requirement in 735 ILCS 5/2-622.

What if my loved one died from an undiagnosed arrhythmia? Who can bring a claim?

Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, 740 ILCS 180, a personal representative of the deceased person’s estate can bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, or other next of kin. The claim must be filed within two years of the date of death. Surviving family members may recover compensation for the loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the grief caused by the death. If you lost a family member because a doctor failed to diagnose a cardiac arrhythmia, Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review the facts and help you understand your options. Call (312) 222-0010 to speak with the firm today.

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