Early Warnings Ignored in Case of Heart Doctor's Misconduct at Jönköping Children's Clinic

A heart doctor at the children's clinic in Jönköping's Länssjukhuset Ryhov was the subject of early management warnings dating back to 2014, prior to his employment there, concerning his medical evaluations and practices. These warnings were sent by two hospitals in the UK where the doctor had previously worked. However, despite these early signals, the clinic's management allowed him to continue working, leading to incorrect medical assessments of 78 children who were mistakenly declared healthy.

According to reports, multiple subsequent warnings about the doctor's performance—highlighting incorrect dosage prescriptions, poor documentation, misjudgments, and failure to consult specialists in complex cases—were ignored by clinic management. The situation escalated to the point where John Terlinder, the senior doctor and former head of pediatric cardiology, resigned in 2018, citing concerns over the safety of young patients and frustration that his warnings were disregarded. Terlinder expressed deep worry that these ongoing issues could result in the death of children.

Maria Ekelund, the deputy operations manager, acknowledged the errors and regrets the consequences of the misjudgments but stated that at the time she did not perceive the heart doctor as a significant risk to patient safety. She also noted that some staff members felt their concerns were overlooked.

The case has led to a formal report being filed with the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Ivo), emphasizing the serious patient safety concerns raised by the doctor's incorrect health clearances. This developing story highlights significant lapses in oversight and risk management within the pediatric cardiology unit at the Jönköping clinic, raising questions about protocols for evaluating specialist competence and responding to early warnings within Swedish healthcare institutions.