Reviewed By: The Spiros Law Team | Last Reviewed & Updated: September 16, 2026
Chest pain, shortness of breath, and back pain can be signs of a heart attack or aortic dissection. However, cardiac emergencies can present differently in women and younger adults.
When symptoms are attributed to anxiety, indigestion, or a muscle problem without appropriate evaluation, a serious condition may go undiagnosed.
If a delayed or missed diagnosis caused additional harm, you may have a medical malpractice claim under Illinois law.
Need a case review? Contact Spiros Law for a free, no-obligation case review. Qualifying cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, so you do not pay an attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.
Why Cardiac Events May Be Misdiagnosed in Women and Young Adults
Heart attacks and other cardiac emergencies do not always cause the same symptoms in every patient.
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
Women may experience:
- Unusual or severe fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the jaw, neck, back, or upper abdomen
- Lightheadedness
- Cold sweats
- Chest discomfort or pressure
Some women may experience these symptoms without significant chest pain.
Why Cardiac Symptoms May Be Overlooked in Younger Adults
Younger patients may have their symptoms attributed to other conditions, such as:
- Muscle strain
- Anxiety or panic
- Stress
- Acid reflux
- Gallbladder problems
- Costochondritis
A patient’s age does not by itself rule out a heart attack, aortic dissection, or another serious cardiac condition.
When a potentially serious cause is not adequately evaluated, a diagnosis may be delayed.
What Is an Aortic Dissection?
An aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s main artery.
Blood can then enter the wall of the aorta and separate its layers. An aortic dissection is a medical emergency that can cause life-threatening complications.
Common Aortic Dissection Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Sudden, severe chest or back pain
- Pain that moves from the chest to the back or abdomen
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Stroke-like symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Differences in blood pressure between the arms
Aortic dissection symptoms can overlap with other conditions, including heart attack, anxiety, and musculoskeletal problems. This can make diagnosis challenging.
Common Diagnostic Errors in Cardiac Cases
Potential diagnostic errors may include:
- Failing to order an EKG when symptoms warrant cardiac evaluation
- Failing to order or appropriately interpret troponin testing
- Attributing symptoms to anxiety without adequately evaluating medical causes
- Failing to consider an aortic dissection when symptoms and risk factors warrant further evaluation
- Failing to order appropriate imaging when dissection is suspected
- Relying on normal initial test results without appropriate additional evaluation
- Failing to consider relevant family or medical history
- Poor communication between emergency department staff and providers
- Discharging a patient without appropriate instructions or follow-up
A normal or near-normal EKG does not by itself rule out an aortic dissection. Additional testing may be necessary when a dissection is suspected based on the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings.
When Is a Cardiac Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice in Illinois?
A missed or delayed diagnosis is not automatically medical malpractice. Some cardiac conditions can be difficult to diagnose, even when appropriate care is provided.
The legal question generally involves whether the healthcare provider met the applicable standard of care and whether a failure to do so caused the patient’s injury.
An Illinois medical malpractice claim generally requires evidence of:
- Duty of care: A healthcare provider owed the patient a duty to provide appropriate medical care.
- Breach of duty: The provider failed to meet the applicable standard of care.
- Causation: The provider’s conduct caused or contributed to the patient’s injury.
- Damages: The patient suffered harm, such as permanent heart damage, stroke, disability, additional medical expenses, or wrongful death.
Illinois medical malpractice claims generally also require an affidavit and written report from a qualified healthcare professional establishing a reasonable and meritorious basis for the claim.
A cardiologist, emergency medicine physician, or another qualified medical expert may review the patient’s records to determine whether the evaluation and treatment met the applicable standard of care.
Illinois Statute of Limitations for Misdiagnosis Claims
- Adults: Generally 2 years from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, but no more than 4 years from the date of the negligent act (735 ILCS 5/13-212).
- Minors: Generally 8 years from the date of injury, but no later than the child’s 22nd birthday.
- Wrongful death claims: Generally must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.
Because these cases often hinge on ER records, EKG timestamps, and lab result timing, early legal review helps ensure this evidence is preserved before it becomes harder to obtain.
What Compensation Can Cover
- Past and future medical expenses, including cardiac surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term care
- Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of normal life
- Costs associated with permanent disability or reduced life expectancy
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
Evidence That Strengthens a Cardiac Misdiagnosis Case
Important evidence may include:
- Emergency department records
- Triage notes and vital signs
- EKG results and timestamps
- Troponin and other laboratory results
- Imaging studies and imaging orders
- CT angiography records, when applicable
- Medical and family history
- Discharge instructions
- Follow-up records
- Records documenting the later diagnosis
- Cardiology and emergency medicine expert review
These records can help establish what symptoms were reported, what testing was performed, what providers knew at the time, and whether additional evaluation was warranted.
Why Choose Spiros Law for Your Illinois Cardiac Misdiagnosis Case
Spiros Law represents patients and families across Illinois in failure-to-diagnose claims involving heart attacks, aortic dissections, and other cardiac emergencies.
We work with independent cardiology and emergency medicine experts to determine whether a patient’s symptoms and risk factors should have prompted further testing and to hold providers accountable when diagnostic bias or a rushed workup led to a preventable tragedy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can a heart attack be misdiagnosed in women?
Women may experience heart attack symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, or jaw and back pain. These symptoms can overlap with other conditions, which may make diagnosis more difficult.
Spiros Law can review the medical records to determine whether the symptoms and available medical information warranted additional cardiac testing.
Can a normal EKG rule out an aortic dissection?
No. An EKG evaluates the heart’s electrical activity and does not by itself rule out an aortic dissection.
When an aortic dissection is suspected, additional evaluation and imaging may be necessary based on the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings.
The Spiros Law team can review the emergency department workup to determine whether the evaluation met the applicable standard of care.
What should an ER do if an aortic dissection is suspected?
The appropriate evaluation depends on the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings. A healthcare provider may consider blood pressure measurements, imaging, laboratory testing, monitoring, and other diagnostic measures.
A CT angiogram is commonly used to evaluate suspected aortic dissection, although the appropriate testing depends on the circumstances.
Spiros Law can work with qualified medical experts to evaluate whether the emergency department took appropriate steps based on the information available at the time.
Is it medical malpractice if I was sent home and later had a heart attack or aortic dissection?
Not necessarily. A later diagnosis does not by itself establish medical malpractice.
A claim may exist if the evidence shows that the provider failed to meet the applicable standard of care and that the failure caused or contributed to the patient’s injuries.
When you work with Spiros Law, we can review the emergency department records and consult qualified medical experts when appropriate to evaluate a potential failure-to-diagnose claim.
Do I need money upfront to hire a cardiac misdiagnosis lawyer?
No. Spiros Law handles qualifying medical malpractice cases on a contingency-fee basis. There are no upfront attorney fees, and you do not pay an attorney fee unless compensation is recovered for you or your family.
Sources
Sources & Legal Authority
- 735 ILCS 5/13-212 — Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (Physician or Hospital Actions; Statute of Limitations): Governs statutory deadlines for filing medical negligence lawsuits, including the standard 2-year discovery rule, the 4-year statute of repose, and provisions for minors.
- 735 ILCS 5/2-622 — Illinois Healing Art Malpractice (Affidavit & Certificate of Merit): Requires a plaintiff’s attorney to file an affidavit and a written medical report from a qualified reviewing physician confirming a meritorious basis for the misdiagnosis action.
- American Heart Association (AHA) — Heart Attack Symptoms in Women: Clinical guidelines and diagnostic criteria highlighting non-traditional, atypical cardiac presentations and gender-based symptom variations.
- American College of Cardiology (ACC) / AHA — Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease: Practice standards detailing high-risk clinical features, imaging protocols (including contrast CT angiography), and emergency triage pathways for acute aortic syndromes.
- Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) — Clinical Diagnostic Guidance & Cognitive Bias: Clinical perspectives on preventing premature closure, cognitive anchoring, and diagnostic delays in emergency departments.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Chest pain, sudden severe back pain, or symptoms of a possible heart attack or aortic dissection require immediate emergency medical attention. Every legal case is unique; consult a licensed Illinois attorney to evaluate your specific situation.
