HOUSTON — A cardiologist is facing a claim that his delayed diagnosis and treatment of a patient's severe heart disease caused her cardiac arrest and death.
Murray Steve Smith, individually and as representative of the estate of Karen Kennedy Smith, Taylor Steve Smith, Lindsey Leigh Smith and Shannon Byrne Smith filed a complaint Aug. 12 in Harris County District Court against Alfredo T. Garcia, M.D., Houston Heart Centre, PA, and Houston Independent Physicians ACO LLC alleging negligence.
According to the plaintiffs' suit, Karen Kennedy Smith was a 60-year-old with a history of coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperlipidemia and diabetes and had been under the care of her cardiologist, Smith, for several years. They claim that in September of 2016, Garcia diagnosed Smith with "lesions noted in the left main" and was treated with "medical therapy." The plaintiffs further claim that in October of 2019, Smith began to have "recurrent episodes" of chest pain with several "non-invasive cardiac exams" showing abnormal results.
They allege that Garcia failed to recommend a cardiac catherization or do additional workup or treatment on Smith and that in December of 2019, after suffering continued chest pain, Smith was seen by a critical care service physician who diagnosed her with "acute anterior MI." The plaintiffs claim that Smith already had irreversible damage to her heart due to Garcia's negligence and died of cardiac arrest on December 31, 2019.
The plaintffs seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Steven Davis of Davis & Davis in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-49877