Cardiology cases in medical malpractice litigation span the diagnosis and management of heart disease, including missed myocardial infarction, mismanaged heart failure, complications of cardiac procedures and devices, errors in anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy, and failure to recognize and act on abnormal investigations such as electrocardiograms and imaging.
The standard of care is defined by what a reasonable cardiologist, or a reasonable practitioner in the relevant role, would have done in the circumstances, and is proven through expert evidence rather than by reference to guidelines alone. Many cardiac claims involve the interaction between cardiology and other specialties, particularly emergency medicine and family medicine, where the question is whether the patient should have been recognized, investigated, or referred sooner. Causation frequently turns on the natural course of serious cardiac disease and what difference timely care would have made.
Posts tagged Cardiology analyze Ontario decisions involving the diagnosis and management of cardiac conditions and the conduct of cardiac procedures.
Ontario Superior Court dismisses fatal aortic dissection claim against internist and ED physician. The standards of care for mild aortic dilation and hypertensive chest pain.
Alberta King’s Bench dismisses critical care malpractice claim. Standard of care breached on echocardiography timing, but causation defeated by temporal mismatch.
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal affirms dismissal of a failure-to-refer claim. Breach of standard of care, but causation defeated by referral wait times.
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