Hungarian hospital fined after elderly woman's fatal heart attack mishandled
The National Institute of Health fined Szent Imre University Hospital for procedural failures that led to an 89-year-old woman's death following a delayed heart-attack diagnosis.
In September, an 89-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department of Szent Imre University Hospital with intense back pain, shortness of breath and fear of death. Nurses failed to conduct an EKG, even though she asked for one, and marked her case as less urgent, which delayed medical assessment for several hours. She left the hospital around 5:30 p.m. on her own and died a few hours later at home.
Her son lodged an official complaint, prompting the National Institute of Health to open an investigation in March. The agency concluded that the omitted EKG and the triage classification constituted professional negligence and issued a fine, which the hospital paid. In response, the hospital now staffs two qualified personnel for triage during peak hours, conducts daily document reviews, and holds regular meetings to address safety issues.
Why it matters
The case highlights critical gaps in emergency care that can endanger vulnerable patients.
In this story
