Cardiac Arrhythmia & Arrest Caused by Medication Errors

Cardiac Arrhythmia & Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm — either too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular. Some arrhythmias are benign, but others disrupt blood flow to the brain and organs. Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, typically due to a severely abnormal heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia.

What Causes Cardiac Arrhythmia?

Common causes include:

• Underlying heart disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy)
• Electrolyte disturbances (e.g., potassium, magnesium abnormalities)
• Medication side effects
• Structural abnormalities (e.g., valve disease, congenital issues)

In a hospital setting, medication-induced arrhythmias can result from overdoses, harmful drug interactions, electrolyte mismanagement, or improper use of anesthesia and cardiac drugs.

Cardiac Arrest & Medical Malpractice

Cardiac events may occur despite appropriate care due to complex medical conditions or unforeseeable complications. However, when a provider fails to consider known risks, skips standard heart monitoring, administers drugs inappropriately, or ignores warning signs, preventable harm occurs—and it might be grounds for a malpractice claim.

How Medication Errors Cause Preventable Harm

Medication errors that can trigger arrhythmias or arrest include:

• Incorrect dosages of drugs like amiodarone or beta-blockers
• Failure to monitor labs, particularly electrolytes, in patients taking QT-prolonging medications
• Harmful drug mixes, e.g., digoxin with diuretics leading to toxicity
• Inadequate perioperative supervision, resulting in unrecognized arrhythmias under anesthesia

These errors often go unnoticed without proper monitoring and prompt response.

When Can a Malpractice Lawsuit Be Filed?

A lawsuit may be valid if:

1. Doctor-patient relationship included a duty of care
2. A breach occurred—e.g., improper drug dosing or lab monitoring
3. The breach directly caused harm, such as arrhythmia or cardiac arrest
4. The patient or family suffered measurable damages (e.g., death, injury, economic loss)

Expert testimony is almost always required to establish these elements and prove negligence.

Real Case Examples of Malpractice-Related Cardiac Arrhythmias & Arrest

• Confidential $900,000 settlement (Illinois): A 52‑year‑old man post-hernia repair experienced chest pain and low oxygen saturation. A cardiac alarm sounded overnight, but staff didn’t respond. He later suffered respiratory distress leading to bradycardia and cardiac arrest, resulting in anoxic brain injury and death. Sommers Schwartz reached a $900K settlement with the hospital.
• $4.51 million jury verdict (Texas): In Jones v. Medical Center of Southeast Texas (2013), a 57-year-old woman showed chest pain during catheterization. After discharge and misdiagnosed follow-up, she returned to the ER and died of a fatal heart attack. The jury found the hospital and cardiologist negligent in failing to interpret her electrocardiograms and intervene, awarding $4.51M.
• $2 million wrongful-death settlement (Massachusetts): A 35‑year‑old man underwent aortic valve surgery and was discharged on anticoagulants. Post-discharge, his Coumadin/Heparin therapy led to an untreated arrhythmia resulting in death. The case settled for $2M over failure to manage post-operative cardiac risks.
• $1 million settlement (Massachusetts): A 71‑year‑old with ventricular tachycardia seen on Holter monitoring was not admitted for treatment. He later died suddenly from unrecognized life-threatening arrhythmia. Lubin & Meyer secured a $1M settlement.

Why These Cases Matter

These examples highlight how medical oversights—whether in dosing, lab monitoring, or responding to alarms—can have fatal consequences. They reinforce that:

• Hospitals and providers must heed alarms and monitor vitals and labs diligently
• Failure to do so is a breach of the standard of care
• Courts are increasingly holding negligent providers financially responsible

Next Steps If You Suspect Malpractice

If your loved one experienced arrhythmia or cardiac arrest during medical care—and you suspect medication errors, missed diagnoses, or failure to respond—you should:

1. Preserve all medical records immediately
2. Schedule a case review with experienced medical-legal experts
3. Investigate medication administration, lab results, monitoring records, and alarm logs
4. Engage a lawyer with a successful track record in cardiac-related malpractice claims, such as Lupetin & Unatin

At Lupetin & Unatin, our Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to representing individuals and families harmed by medical negligence. If you suspect that your case involves preventable cardiac harm from medication errors or lack of monitoring, we can help. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to explore your legal options and pursue justice.