Čakovec hospital faces negligence allegations after patient survival

A patient, Tomica Horvat, has come forward with allegations of medical negligence at the County Hospital Čakovec in Croatia, following the recent death of entrepreneur Luka Palatinuš at the same facility.

Horvat reports that he sought emergency care in mid-June presenting with chest pains, shoulder and back pain, numbness in his left arm, and high blood pressure. Despite undergoing an EKG, X-rays, and blood tests, hospital staff reportedly told him everything was fine and discharged him within approximately 30 minutes.

After seeking a second opinion from a private cardiologist, Horvat was advised to undergo vascular imaging. When he requested the procedure at the Čakovec hospital, he was reportedly told he would face a multi-month wait and was advised to seek help in Zagreb instead. Upon arriving at a private clinic in Zagreb in July, medical staff expressed shock at his condition, stating he had arrived at the ‘last moment.’ He subsequently underwent emergency surgery to receive a stent and two balloons, which saved his life.