Heart attack sufferer sues doctor after GP dismissed his chest pains as heartburn three times
A plumber who almost died of a massive heart attack is suing his doctor, claiming his GP dismissed his chest pains as heartburn.
Glenn Richardson, from Phillip Island in Victoria, went to visit his doctor on three separate occasions in discomfort, but each time he claims he was told it was acid reflux.
Just days after his final visit, he suffered a huge heart attack.
The 58-year-old needed a triple bypass and spent more than six weeks in intensive care.
His wife has recalled the torment she went through in the weeks following her husband's heart problems.
"It was very, very hard being in there every day and seeing the way Glenn was," Carol Richardson said.
Glenn was forced into retirement and is now suing his GP for damages and loss of earnings.
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His lawyer says she is seeing a rise in the number of misdiagnosed, serious heart conditions.
"You've got to exclude the possibility of a cardiac cause and to do that you do an ECG - it's a very simple test," lawyer Anne Shortall said.
Three quarters of Glenn's heart muscle is now useless and as a result he can no longer surf or be anywhere near as active as he once was.
Despite his struggles, Glenn still has time to play with his three grandchildren and hopes his ordeal will be a warning to others suffering from chest pains.
