Szent Imre Hospital fined following patient death

The National Center for Public Health and Pharmaceutical Services (NNGYK) has imposed a 500,000 HUF fine on Budapest’s Szent Imre Hospital after an investigation into the death of an 89-year-old woman.

The investigation found professional failures and documentation irregularities regarding the patient, who presented with symptoms including severe radiating back pain, shortness of breath, and a sense of impending doom in September 2024. Authorities determined that staff failed to perform a requested EKG and incorrectly categorized the patient as a “less urgent” case. According to the NNGYK, the patient should have been classified as urgent, requiring a medical examination within 30 minutes.

Due to the perceived lack of care and worsening condition, the patient left the hospital under her own responsibility to seek private medical attention, but she passed away a few hours later at home. While a prior internal hospital review in 2024 found no professional errors, the official NNGYK investigation concluded that the failure to perform an EKG and the incorrect triage classification were professional omissions that likely contributed to the outcome.

The hospital has paid the fine and implemented new patient safety measures, including doubling the number of staff performing triage during peak morning and evening hours and ensuring all triage personnel possess the necessary qualifications.