Misdiagnosis
I am a 69-year-old woman. On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, I visited the Hazel Dell Parkway office of Riverview (Health) Urgent Care in Carmel, Indiana with a complaint of chest pain. At the time I was recovering from bronchitis. I have had bronchitis before and know what the associated pain from coughing feels like; this pain was different and I mentioned that during my visit. The attending physician, James Beeson, M.D., ordered a chest x-ray and subsequently ruled out pneumonia. He then sent me home. At NO time did he listen to my heart, ask about my cardiovascular health or history, perform an EKG, test for cardiac enzyme levels, or seem to consider my heart as a possible cause of the pain. Further, he spent less than five minutes with me and seemed distracted or preoccupied. Finally, at discharge I received no paperwork. At 2:30 a.m. the following day (Wednesday, March 18th) I awoke with severe chest pain and sweating. I could have ignored this since the doctor indicated that it's just bronchitis, but I did not. My husband drove me to the Emergency Department at Riverview Health in Noblesville, Indiana where testing determined that I was having a heart attack. Cardiac catheterization that day revealed that my left coronary artery was 95% occluded, the scenario known as the "widow maker." Their Interventional Cardiologist was able to use a balloon catheter to open that artery somewhat but was unable to place any stents. This necessitated a second procedure where the calcification was reamed out, after which he placed three stents. As my husband and I subsequently reviewed this whole chain of events it seems patently obvious to us that Dr. Beeson completely missed the obvious (my heart) when considering my complaint of chest pain (which we now know was angina). Further, had he considered and acted upon that possibility by immediately sending me to the Emergency Department for further evaluation, then the occlusion would have been discovered and addressed that day, and I would not have suffered the heart attack the following day; it could have been medically avoided. Dr. Beeson clearly misdiagnosed my chest pain, and the result was an avoidable heart attack and the mental stress and anguish associated with it. When I brought this matter, via e-mail, to the attention of Julie Nix, Riverview's President and CEO; Rick Henvey, the CEO of Riverview's parent, Parkview Hospital; and Maddie Larson, Riverview Health's Director of Quality, Ms. Larson responded via e-mail saying, in part, "We understand how distressing this whole experience has been for you and sincerely apologize for that. Upon receiving your email, we once again reviewed the care you received with the appropriate clinical leadership. While we are unable to discuss personnel matters or confidential aspects of our quality review process, please know that the review of this case was thorough and rest assured that appropriate follow-up and education has occurred." Later she stated, "At this time, we will consider this matter closed." I find that the actions purported to have been taken, and Riverview Health's overall response, to be totally insufficient. I suffered an avoidable heart attack and Riverview and Dr. Beeson get off scot-free?!?!?! That is simply unacceptable. It seems to me that they are attempting to sweep this matter under the rug. My recommendation is that you seek your healthcare elsewhere!
By Gina