Finding into death of Mohamed Hamza

AI-generated summary

40-year-old male with hypercholesterolaemia presented to general practice with new-onset central chest pain radiating to neck and arm, plus shortness of breath. The practice nurse obtained an ECG and recorded the radiating pain and stabbing nature. The general practitioner diagnosed musculoskeletal pain and prescribed simple analgesia with only a non-urgent stress test referral. The patient was reassured and sent home. Hours later he suffered sudden cardiac death from coronary artery occlusion and arrhythmia. The coroner found the GP failed to recognise classic cardiac symptoms (radiating pain) or appreciate the urgency despite not excluding cardiac causes. Had the patient been referred immediately to hospital, he likely would have been present for resuscitation when the occlusion occurred. The phone triage failure to recommend emergency services was also problematic. Key lessons: radiating chest pain is a red flag requiring emergency assessment regardless of examination findings; absence of pain and normal ECG do not exclude acute coronary syndromes; all chest pain matching Heart Foundation criteria requires urgent emergency referral.

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