title: Failure to diagnose acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: Case histories are based on actual medical negligence claims, however, certain facts have been omitted or changed by the author to ensure the anonymity of the parties involved. An allegation of failure to diagnose acute myocardial infarction is a relatively common cause of medical negligence claims against general practitioners. The main factors contributing to these claims are failure to order appropriate investigations (including electrocardiograms), failure to suspect myocardial infarction, failure or delay in hospital admission and/or referral and misinterpretation of investigations. This article outlines risk management strategies for GPs to minimise the possibility of a claim arising from the failure to diagnose acute myocardial infarction.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bird
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D011899:Ranitidine