Ireland's Poxy F***N Hospital System

Stiffler2 · 20-01-2012 03:58PM #1

Hi All,

I'll make this short, a great friend of mine / friend of the family passed away suddenly last night and was found today at 3pm slumped over his kitchen table.

The diagnosis is that he died suddenly of a heart attack.

He attended tallaght hospital 1 week ago complaing of severe chest pains and you know what, they sent him home saying if it continues to come back in.

Now I've been ranting onto people about this all day and I would like to hold the hospital responsible somehow for this but don't know where to start.

Other people are telling me that it wasn't the hospitals fault as they simply cannot check every vein / artery that may have a clog in it which I suppose is fair enough but I think they should have at least ran some tests and not have sent him home so quickly.

Perhaps I'm just in rage because of my loss and want to blame someone.

I would like other peoples opinions on this matter, do you think the hospital could have done nothing about it or do you think they are perhaps to blame in some way.

Is it a matter of contacting a solicitor to look into the matter or is that just life ??

I would really appreciate no trolls or jokes / smart comments about this, thanks.

FatherLen · 20-01-2012 04:01PM

sorry to hear about your loss but i wouldnt say the hospital can be held responsible.
but i am no solicitor so i am not sure.

AngryBollix · 20-01-2012 04:04PM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

Hi All,

I'll make this short, a great friend of mine / friend of the family passed away suddenly last night and was found today at 3pm slumped over his kitchen table.

The diagnosis is that he died suddenly of a heart attack.

He attended tallaght hospital 1 week ago complaing of severe chest pains and you know what, they sent him home saying if it continues to come back in.

Now I've been ranting onto people about this all day and I would like to hold the hospital responsible somehow for this but don't know where to start.

Other people are telling me that it wasn't the hospitals fault as they simply cannot check every vein / artery that may have a clog in it which I suppose is fair enough but I think they should have at least ran some tests and not have sent him home so quickly.

Perhaps I'm just in rage because of my loss and want to blame someone.

I would like other peoples opinions on this matter, do you think the hospital could have done nothing about it or do you think they are perhaps to blame in some way.

Is it a matter of contacting a solicitor to look into the matter or is that just life ??

I would really appreciate no trolls or jokes / smart comments about this, thanks.

Who you want to hold responsible is irrelevant without sufficient evidence. Unless of course you are a heart specialist

Biggins · 20-01-2012 04:04PM

The persons relatives will have to contact the hospital and get their version of events.
A registered letter asking politely for details should prod some official documented answers - probably not all and to the satisfaction of seeing a quick resolution - but at least the family will know where they stand at that point and go from there.

davet82 · 20-01-2012 04:04PM

sorry for your loss but i think it maybe just one of them things, if the hospital could have done anything more it was probably cut from their budget...

smash · 20-01-2012 04:06PM

I presume they gave him an ECG and it all came back ok so they released him.

Crazy Horse 6 · 20-01-2012 04:06PM

Been happening for years pal. My own daugther spent 2 weeks in Tallaght hospital with "according to 5 expert doctors" acute bronchitis. It was'nt but luckily for us and her the actual cause of her illness did'nt have long term effects on her. The HSE is a complete mess, talk to any run of the mill nurses and they will tell you as much. Really sorry about your friend wish i had an answer for you in regards what steps to take next.

Stiffler2 · 20-01-2012 04:08PM

Thanks all, I appreiciate it.

I just feel it's disgusting that they told him to go home with chest pains and then he had a heart attack 1 week later so I feel as if someone didn't do their job properly however I know I probably only feel this way because I am so angry about his death

:(

This guy was a king among men.

JustAddWater · 20-01-2012 04:10PM

davet82 wrote: »

sorry for your loss but i think it maybe just one of them things, if the hospital could have done anything more it was probably cut from their budget...

Those budget cuts coming from the same man who said

Health Minister Dr James Reilly has today moved to reassure the families of sick people that the latest round of health cuts will not endanger lives.

taken from http://budget.breakingnews.ie/news/health-minister-nobody-will-die-because-of-health-cuts-531142.html

YES the health system in Ireland is a joke. I've heard nothing but bad things about tallaght and would avoid them at all costs unless i've no choice (unopended referral letters, etc, etc)

Anyway, what could or could not have been done will not do your sanity any good OP. Sorry for your loss

AngryBollix · 20-01-2012 04:11PM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

Thanks all, I appreiciate it.

I just feel it's disgusting that they told him to go home with chest pains and then he had a heart attack 1 week later so I feel as if someone didn't do their job properly however I know I probably only feel this way because I am so angry about his death :(

This guy was a king among men.

Unfortunately you cant make those kinds of allegations without being able to back it up.

mikom · 20-01-2012 04:12PM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

Now I've been ranting onto people about this all day and I would like to hold the hospital responsible somehow for this but don't know where to start.

Had the hospital control over his age, and lifestyle/diet throughout the years?

Because this is the first thing the defence would rip to shreds in your supposed courtroom situation.

amacachi · 20-01-2012 04:14PM

About 6 months ago dad had a heart attack, paramedics didn't see any need to take him into hospital which was reassuring for the future.

af_thefragile · 20-01-2012 04:15PM

Sorry for your loss.

But I'd say you can sue the hospital if you wish. You seem to have a case there where a person at a high of heart attack/MI was sent home without being examined/observed properly at the hospital to assess his risk of developing an MI.

The doctors in the AnE which I presume where your friend went to when he had his chest pains should have done a full cardiac work up on him and kept him under observation for a day or two until they could declare him risk free and send him home.

Now this would vary in different situations. Like if your friend is young and has no previous history of heart disease then it is very likely the doctors would pass it off as just musculo-skeletal pain and wouldn't feel the need to do a cardiac work up.

If your friend is old, has a known heart disease, is diabetic or has any such chronic condition, then he would get a full cardiac work up.

So you are entitled to pursue a case against a hospital. The decision will depend on whether the doctors followed the right protocols and guidelines assessing the patient with proper documentation of it all when your friend went to the AnE a week ago.

Rocky_Dennis · 20-01-2012 04:15PM

AngryBollix wrote: »

Unfortunately you cant make those kinds of allegations without being able to back it up.

Is burying his friend, who went to the hospital with chest pains last week not sufficient to back it up

Sorry for your loss OP

mikemac1 · 20-01-2012 04:16PM

You can certainly speak to a solicitor and they'll help you send a registered letter requesting information

Or you can do this yourself if you know what to ask for

But for now, I wouldn't make accusations
Just find out what questions you want answered and send the letter. If this ever gets escalated then anything you put in that letter will be used so keep it straight and not emotional

You're hurt at the moment and maybe lashing out

Stiffler2 · 20-01-2012 04:17PM

amacachi wrote: »

About 6 months ago dad had a heart attack, paramedics didn't see any need to take him into hospital which was reassuring for the future.

Hi Amacachi,

maybe bring your dad to the Beacon Clinic. They have really top notch equipment out there and the doctors out there are fantastic.

I've been there a few times myself and if anything happened to me that would be my first choice.

In answer to other people's question he was 65, didn't smoke, only drank the odd time but didn't have a great diet.

Worked all his life right up until he died so he certainly wasn't a couch potatoe.

Thanks again to all

boodee · 20-01-2012 04:17PM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

Thanks all, I appreiciate it.

I just feel it's disgusting that they told him to go home with chest pains and then he had a heart attack 1 week later so I feel as if someone didn't do their job properly however I know I probably only feel this way because I am so angry about his death :(

This guy was a king among men.

Sorry for your loss. You are just reeling from it now but I can see how you feel. My sister is currently wheelcahir bound after being sent home from waterford Regional THREE times. They missed a huge tumour on her spine.

I was sent home from wexford general with a cracked vertebrae some years ago and i'm still in pain.

My father in law had stomach cancer missed, by the time it was caught he only lived 4 months.

My conclusion is, there just isn't the resources and people will fall through the cracks. Unless you can keep presenting to the hospital they cannot and will not do any further tests. So, all I can say is learn from it as we won't be changing the system anytime soon. I have had to change doctors to get what I want.....but I got it..

AngryBollix · 20-01-2012 04:17PM

Does the OP know what the outcome of the inital visit to the hospital was?

Were the chest pains related to the heart or were they something else?

drkpower · 20-01-2012 04:18PM

mikom wrote: »

Had the hospital control over his age, and lifestyle/diet throughout the years?

Because this is the first thing the defence would rip to shreds in your supposed courtroom situation.

Nah; they wouldnt. 'You take your victim as you find him' is one of the maxims of medical law.

OP; contact the Hospital (or suggest his family do); arrange to speak with the doctors calmly & cooly; ask them what happened; ask questions; ask some more questions; let them answer the questions. Hopefully that will answer all your concerns. If not, then you can consider what your next move is. But only then.

AngryBollix · 20-01-2012 04:20PM

Andrewh1984 wrote: »

Is burying his friend, who went to the hospital with chest pains last week not sufficient to back it up

Sorry for your loss OP

Prove that they were connected. Or are you making assumptions? The initial chst pains may not have indicated an impending heart attack. If they did then you have a clear case

Are you a heart specialist too?

Sindri · 20-01-2012 04:20PM

amacachi wrote: »

About 6 months ago dad had a heart attack, paramedics didn't see any need to take him into hospital which was reassuring for the future.

You are supposed to take small doses of aspirin every day if you've suffered a heart attack.

It reduces chances that you'll have a second.

It doesn't work to stop the first one from happening but it can stop a second.

Nothingbetter2d · 20-01-2012 04:20PM

amacachi wrote: »

About 6 months ago dad had a heart attack, paramedics didn't see any need to take him into hospital which was reassuring for the future.

no autopsy to see if what killed your dad was a congenital heart defect that could save your life if you know about it in time?

Democratic Right · 20-01-2012 04:22PM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

Hi All,

I'll make this short, a great friend of mine / friend of the family passed away suddenly last night and was found today at 3pm slumped over his kitchen table.

The diagnosis is that he died suddenly of a heart attack.

He attended tallaght hospital 1 week ago complaing of severe chest pains and you know what, they sent him home saying if it continues to come back in.

Now I've been ranting onto people about this all day and I would like to hold the hospital responsible somehow for this but don't know where to start.

Other people are telling me that it wasn't the hospitals fault as they simply cannot check every vein / artery that may have a clog in it which I suppose is fair enough but I think they should have at least ran some tests and not have sent him home so quickly.

Perhaps I'm just in rage because of my loss and want to blame someone.

I would like other peoples opinions on this matter, do you think the hospital could have done nothing about it or do you think they are perhaps to blame in some way.

Is it a matter of contacting a solicitor to look into the matter or is that just life ??

I would really appreciate no trolls or jokes / smart comments about this, thanks.

Not sure about this but is it possible for the family to contact the coroner and ask for an autopsy and inquest?

amacachi · 20-01-2012 04:23PM

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

no autopsy to see if what killed your dad was a congenital heart defect?

He didn't die, had another one a coupla days later and drove himself to hospital.

fonda · 20-01-2012 04:23PM

Ireland's Poxy F***N Hospital System

What curse begins with f and ends in n and has 5 letters???

Stiffler2 · 20-01-2012 04:23PM

AngryBollix wrote: »

Does the OP know what the outcome of the inital visit to the hospital was?

Were the chest pains related to the heart or were they something else?

I'm sorry I don't have the answers to these questions but I certainly will over the next few days.

amacachi · 20-01-2012 04:25PM

Sindri wrote: »

It doesn't work to stop the first one from happening but it can stop a second.

He's on plenty now, when I said "for the future" I meant in dealing with paramedics and the like again. Mine and family members' experiences with medical professionals doesn't fill me with confidence.

MagicMarker · 20-01-2012 04:25PM

Sorry for your loss OP, but I don't believe your friend went to the hospital and was told to go home. They at least did routine tests and found things to be within normal parameters, they certainly couldn't have predicted what would happen a week later.

AngryBollix · 20-01-2012 04:26PM

Stiffler2 wrote: »

I'm sorry I don't have the answers to these questions but I certainly will over the next few days.

Might be the safest place to start. At least you'll have a clearer picture of what happened one way or the other.

Rocky_Dennis · 20-01-2012 04:27PM

AngryBollix wrote: »

Prove that they were connected. Or are you making assumptions? The initial chst pains may not have indicated an impending heart attack. If they did then you have a clear case

Are you a heart specialist too?

I'm not a heart specialist nor a doctor.

Anyway, a similar incident happened with a friend of mine but thankfully he didn't pass away, paramedics were called after he complained of chest pains, they arrived and said he was ok, he had a heart attack that night. Maybe I am making assumptions but from this incident, I reckon they could be related.

AngryBollix · 20-01-2012 04:29PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

Sorry for your loss OP, but I don't believe your friend went to the hospital and was told to go home. They at least did routine tests and found things to be within normal parameters, they certainly couldn't have predicted what would happen a week later.

Some clarification from the staff involved may be the way to go

Ireland's Poxy F***N Hospital System

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