Defense Verdict Favors Emergency Medicine Physician in Alleged Failure to Diagnose Myocardial Infarction Dispute

The plaintiff had sought $2.7 million. The plaintiff went to the emergency room due to chest pains and was treated by the defendant. The plaintiff was then admitted to the hospital for monitoring to rule out a myocardial infarction. Two EKGs were diagnostic of a myocardial infarction, but there was a factual dispute as to whether it was ever communicated to any physician. A stat cardiac consult was ordered after the third EKG but was not completed until 8 hours later. The plaintiff argued that the defense failed to timely diagnose and treat the myocardial infarction and failed to obtain a time cardiology consultation, which resulted in additional heart muscle damage. The defense denied any negligence and the plaintiff was not physically injured by any delay in treatment.