Diagnostic difficulties and legal analysis of potential claims to occupational medicine specialists based on a case of unrecognizable cardiac angiosarcoma

Abstract

The article presents a case of sudden death of a 56-year-old woman at the workplace, caused by a very rare primary cardiac tumor. The patient’s family reported a crime to the prosecutor’s office suggesting participation of third parties in causing the death or malpractice in physical examinations before the death. A review of clinical data concerning cardiac angiosarcoma, available in electronic databases (e.g., Web of Science, PubMed), was presented, which could be useful in the practice of occupational medicine specialists. A legal analysis of potential claims to occupational medicine specialist in the case of failure to recognize primary cardiac tumors was also included in the article. Med Pr. 2020;71(6):757–64

Keywords

• cardiac angiosarcoma
• cardiac tumors (primary)
• pericardial tamponade
• death at the workplace
• malpractice
• occupational medicine examinations