Woman dies day after doctor failed to take temperature

A doctor who did not take the temperature of a woman who died a day later has been found to have failed to recognise the seriousness of her symptoms and to take appropriate action in response.

The doctor was found to be in breach of the Code of Health and Disability Services and Consumers’ Rights, a report released yesterday has revealed.

The 42-year-old woman came to a medical centre and reported being ill for three days, with difficulty breathing and sleeping. She was seen by a doctor, who asked a practice nurse carry out an electrocardiogram (ECG).

The doctor did not take her temperature.

The ECG showed an abnormally rapid heartbeat, sinus tachycardia. The doctor also observed she had a cool periphery and hypotension.

The doctor considered the most likely cause of the sinus tachycardia was alcohol abuse and anxiety and prescribed medication to slow down the woman’s heart rate.

The doctor told her to return if her symptoms did not improve within two days.

At the end of the day the nurse was “very surprised” to see the doctor’s note and course of action, the report read.

The nurse arrived at work the next day and discussed her concerns with the clinical nurse leader, who advised her to follow up on the woman.

At 4pm that day, the medical centre received a call from paramedics at the woman’s house, saying she had been found dead.

Dr David Maplesden, who advised on the case, said it was neither safe nor reasonable for the doctor to attribute the symptoms to “anxiety and alcohol” and to treat the tachycardia with a beta-blocker without further investigating the cause.

The doctor was referred to the Director of Proceedings and the medical centre was not found to be in breach of the code.

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Kevin Allan recommended the doctor provide a written apology to the woman’s family, and the Medical Council consider a competence review. — Ryan Dunlop