Family complains delayed treatment led to death of 71-year-old heart patient

A patient at St. Paul's Hospital died within 48 hours of undergoing a heart valve replacement surgery last month, leading the family to file a complaint alleging negligence and request an explanation from the hospital.

The son of the 71-year-old deceased said on Thursday that his father underwent the surgery on the morning of April 17, but the cardiologist said after the operation that there were "minor complications."

That included a change in the procedure involving the originally planned right femoral artery to the left femoral artery, and unstoppable bleeding from two vessels in the left leg.

The son added the doctor informed the family on the day after the surgery that the patient could be switched to the general ward, which was inconsistent with the earlier indication that his father had to be put under 48-hour monitoring in the ICU.

However, shortly after the patient switched wards, he experienced excruciating pain in the right lower abdomen. 

The condition was deemed normal despite three checkups by the doctors, with the CT scan to locate the source of the bleeding being delayed by nearly 45 minutes.

By the time the scan was performed, the patient had already fallen into a coma, and part of the left leg was found to be pale.

The doctors performed emergency resuscitation in the early hours of April 19, as the patient's heart had stopped beating. The doctor later claimed that the operation was successful, however, the patient passed away in the morning. 

The case has been referred to the Coroner's Court for further investigation, and the family has met with the hospital. They were told by the hospital it needed four weeks to seek legal advice and conduct an investigation.

The family has also filed a complaint through the Medical Council and the Department of Health mechanism.

The spokesman of St. Paul's Hospital stated that as the case was handed over to the Coroner's Court, they won't comment on the incident.