An elderly man sought medical attention at the emergency department for nosebleeds during the fall of 2021. The doctor assessed that the bleeding was stopped, and the man, who was in his 90s, was sent home, reports Göteborgs-Posten.
Later that same night, the man died from blood loss.
Now, the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Ivo) is criticizing the treating doctor for lack of clear information about what symptoms the man and his relatives should have been aware of.
"Due to the nasal tamponade being more tightly packed in the front, fresh blood likely flowed back down to the throat and stomach, leading to the patient initially experiencing stomach pain and diarrhea, and ultimately low blood volume with cardiac arrest as a result," it states in Ivo's report.
Ivo says they have no criticism of the treatment itself, but notes that additional tests could have been performed to ensure the patient's condition before he was sent home, according to GP.
