A male patient presented to the emergency room with an infected hair follicle on his groin. He was admitted to the hospital and placed under the care of a hospitalist who was not board certified and had repeatedly failed the board examinations—an indication of competence, though not a formal requirement. During his hospitalization, the patient was administered excessive IV fluids, leading to fluid overload and congestion. Recognizing the symptoms, the doctor ordered an echocardiogram to assess the patient’s heart function.
The echocardiogram results revealed a critically low ejection fraction of 10-15%, indicating a high risk of sudden cardiac death. This was a significant finding, especially since the patient had previously undergone an echocardiogram due to an artificial aortic valve related to a congenital condition, and his baseline heart function had been normal. Despite this critical result, the hospitalist discharged the patient without reviewing the echocardiogram report, consulting a cardiologist, or even telling the patient.
Less than a day after being discharged, the patient collapsed and died from heart failure. Through a thorough investigation, our firm demonstrated the negligence involved, which led to a substantial settlement for the patient’s family on the first day of trial.
Type of Medical Malpractice: Failure to Diagnose and Mismanagement of Cardiac Condition
Standard of Care Issues:
- Accurate interpretation and timely review of critical diagnostic results
- Consultation with specialists when significant abnormalities are identified
- Appropriate management of high-risk cardiac conditions