This case involves an elderly female patient living in a nursing home who began experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. Although the facility staff was aware of the patient’s symptoms, they waited nearly an hour to call for emergency transport. Once emergency medical services arrived to transport the patient, she was in a very weak and altered state. The patient subsequently died of cardiopulmonary arrest in transport. It was alleged that the defendant nursing home staff waited too long before sending the patient to the hospital.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Do you have extensive experience treating patients that present with heart attack symptoms?
2. Are you familiar with the complications and impact of waiting too long to send patient with these symptoms to hospital?
3. What are the complications that can arise if patient does not receive timely treatment?
Expert Witness Response E-008148
I am a cardiologist at a tertiary center and have extensive experience taking care of patients with heart attack. I am very familiar with this kind of scenario, and I have written book chapters on this topic. My research also focuses on this topic, and I have published several papers that examine this issue. Waiting too long to administer treatment to a patient exhibiting symptoms of a heart attack can cause the damage to the heart to extend and can get to a point that any intervention would become futile. At that point, the damage is irreversible.
Expert Bio:
This cardiology expert earned his Ph.D. in molecular physiology as well as his MD from a prestigious research university. This expert completed his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in cardiology. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease, is a member of the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the International Society for Heart Research. This expert has authored over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He currently serves as a professor of medicine and cardiology at a prominent midwestern university and the director of molecular cardiology at a major academic medical center.
About the author
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
