Man’s Heart Attack Ignored in Emergency Room, Leads to Lawsuit

Haimana Romana experienced excruciating chest pain on July 10, 2022, prompting him to seek medical help at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre (HSC). After enduring a two-hour wait in the emergency room, he left to go to St. Boniface Hospital, where doctors quickly diagnosed him with a serious heart condition.

Romana described the unbearable pain he felt as “sweating” and “drifting off,” leading him to seek immediate care. After undergoing an initial assessment at HSC, he was told his electrocardiogram (EKG) results were normal. However, he felt that the diagnosis did not align with his symptoms. “You’re sitting there thinking, I’m going to die,” he recalled.

During his wait, Romana received an aspirin but claims no blood work was conducted. After two hours, he made the decision to leave HSC. With his wife, he drove to St. Boniface Hospital, located approximately 12 minutes away. Upon arrival, medical staff performed a troponin test, which measures specific proteins in the blood to assess heart damage. The results indicated that his troponin levels were five times above the normal limit, confirming a serious condition.

Doctors at St. Boniface informed Romana that he was suffering from a STEMI heart attack, characterized by a blockage in a coronary artery that requires immediate intervention. “The surgeons and doctors at St. Boniface Hospital saved my life,” he stated, emphasizing the critical nature of timely medical treatment. Following the diagnosis, he spent five days in the hospital. Due to the severity of his heart attack, Romana now experiences heart failure, with his heart functioning at only 35-40 percent capacity. “Once upon a time, I could ride my bike 20 kilometres and run 5 kilometres, but can’t do that now,” he lamented.

Following his experience, CTV News reached out to Shared Health, which oversees HSC, for comment. While a spokesperson could not discuss individual patient cases, they provided insights into the triage process at the emergency room. “Each patient is triaged and assigned a Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) score according to their presenting symptoms,” the statement read. The CTAS score is used to prioritize care based on urgency, with Level one being the most critical. Romana stated that he was assessed as a Level two patient, which typically indicates a need for frequent reassessments by medical staff.

Urgent Care and Timely Diagnosis

Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos explained the importance of swift medical intervention for patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack. He noted that patients should ideally have their arteries opened within 90 minutes of presentation. “To have someone wait and have that type of delay, that is very unfortunate and not standard of care,” he commented. The delay in treatment can lead to irreversible damage to heart muscle, making immediate action vital.

Romana has since filed multiple complaints against HSC and is pursuing legal action in hopes of raising awareness about the issues he encountered in the emergency room. He encourages others to advocate for themselves and seek clarity regarding their health concerns. “Make sure that what you are feeling abides with what they are saying to you,” he advised. “You have to ask questions.”

His experience highlights critical issues in emergency healthcare systems, particularly regarding patient assessment and response times. As healthcare facilities face increasing pressures, ensuring effective triage and timely intervention remains paramount for patient safety and health outcomes.