"Negligence and failure to satisfy duty of care."

I presented at FSH ED in atrial fibrillation (AF) 5 hours after onset. Was advised that no treatment, no referral was necessary. 

In my opinion, this was doctor negligence and failure to satisfy requirements for duty of care. 

I have a complaint about a doctor in the paediatric ED that had been converted to a respiratory ward. When I presented I reported that I was in arrhythmia. Was told by staff that, if that was true, the hospital was easily capable of cardioverting me that day. When the Dr first attended my bedside, they just leaned against the wall at the outer corner of the room and, looking at the monitor said my heart looks fine from there.

- I had an ECG that confirmed AF. 

- I reported that my AF had begun at 07:00 that morning and that I was aware I was in sinus rhythm before that. 

- I was discharged without any treatment while my heart rate wavered mostly between 99-105 laying down. Standing it rose to approx. 124. 

- I was told no treatment was necessary as HR <100 bpm and that my AF would likely just resolve on its own.

- No cardiologist was consulted. 

- I was discharged without even being prescribed blood thinners. 

I felt the Dr stood around chatting casually with other staff most of the time I was there. When the Dr discharged me, they said that my condition requires no treatment and that we can just chalk this up as a win. 

With no improvement, I attended my GP’s clinic two days later and they referred me back to FSH ED. There, I presented with the same information that I had provided to staff a few days prior.  

Compare my discharge letters for the 2 days. One Dr commented that they didn’t understand the state of the discharge letter from the first presentation— that it was mostly just auto-filled. Also, I believe the letter was not even forwarded to my GP despite my requesting this from that Dr as I was discharged. 

While I was given a treatment plan on the second presentation, I felt no one could look me in the eye when they said they couldn’t understand why no treatment was prescribed on the first presentation and no cardiologist was called to consult. 

I have no complaints regarding the Dr that saw me two days after this and the cardiologist that attended me from FSH Advanced Heart Failure unit was fine too. No complaints. She advised that a nurse practitioner with the Adv. Heart Failure unit would contact me at the end of that week to check on my condition. I have had no contact since then. They told me because of the previous Dr's error I have to wait 4 weeks for cardiovert. 

Approximately 1 week later I presented reporting chest tightness, shortness of breath (SOB) in addition to AF.  The Doctor consulted with Senior Doctor (who I felt was unpleasant) who said my S/S: chest tightness, SOB: 

- didn’t require a consult with a cardiologist

- didn’t require the CXR I requested

So, I’m in AF and can’t breathe, can’t sleep as a result and was told to go home and just return if symptoms persisted. I asked the Dr if I returned with the same symptoms, what would they do differently then that they couldn’t do now to investigate further and help me. 

At this point, the senior Dr who had come into my room and had, in my opinion, been pretending to read my notes while they listened to our conversation, intervened and told me nothing further would be done for me at FSH ED and discharged me. 

I immediately made an appointment with my GP who ordered a CXR that suggested fluid in my L lung that I’m now taking strong antibiotics for. 

Approximately 1 week after this, in the evening:

- Still in AF. 

- SOB.

- Chest tightness again. 

- Coughing up clear phlegm. 

- Exhausted. 

- Not coping. 

- Don’t know what to do as GP is closed. 

- See no point in attending FSH ED. Tired of Drs that are, in my opinion, incompetent and disregard duty of care. 

Received 2 appointment letters recently: 

1. AHF cardiac function follow up which will be 5 weeks (!) after the onset of AF. Was told I would wait only 4 weeks, especially because of Dr error. 

2. Cardiac Echo. The day after the follow-up appointment (?).