Jennifer,
I am sorry for the loss to you and to your family. I have to make this brief and so I will first tell you there are several answers here, involving more than the one you posed though it also is important. As to the question of malpractice:
1. Yes, radiatioin of pain to the jaw, down the left arm, and across the middle of the back, just below the shoulder blades or between them, are all symptoms of frequently imminent cardiac distress/failure. It is possible your mother was coming down with the flu, perhaps the MD stopped there and did not further investigate how her symptoms and treatment might be related to or affect her heart condition. There are multiple blood and imaging tests which can confirm cardiac malfunction and I agree, if they were not performed, this was neligent.
2. It is important to ask yourself WHY you are pursuing a lawsuit...the answer may seem clear to you, though we often have agendas hidden from our conscious selves. These include the fact that a lawsuit could be a way of not grieving or experiencing loss in a progressive and healing way. When one is addressing the intensity of a lawsuit over a prolonged period of time, and it would take a long time, then there can be an underlying feeling of staying connected with your mother, an avoidance of feeling pain by replacing it with anger. This is a very effective way of not saying goodbye, to be unable to grieve your loss in a peaceful and focused way. I don't believe your mother would want to add years of pain to what is already very difficult.
3. On the other hand, I agree with the post below which directs you to an attorney to find out ways of letting the public know this physician is potentially a hazard to a loved one's health. There are many very competent, concerned, and responsible physicians who, in combination with good communication with the patient and the family, will do a good job, save lifes, maintain the quality of life for the patient, and act responsibly and thoroughly. I have found it is often difficult to identify and separate these individuals from the less involved medical practitioner. I believe you can make complaints to the proper state and national boards that others can check out when searching for a competent and concerned doctor.
4. I would ask that my mother's records be reviewed by an attorney specializing in these cases if you find you cannot let go of wondering if the appropriate tests and treatments were administered. This does not mean you must file a suit; it simply means it may answer the question of whether or not a thorough job was done. If you choose this option, please also consider you may be feeling guilty you "didn't do enough" for your mother and are not just angry with the MD, but perhaps yourself as well. If this is of the slightest possibility, please look into a grief and loss counseling group, because many, many people blame themselves, even if it is actually the physician's or someone else's decision making which caused the loss. "Why didn't I be more assertive with the MD, or for that matter, get a second opinion?" People put themselves through guilt all of the time and attempt to "prove" themselves wrong by "proving" the blame belongs elsewhere.
Jennifer, there are so many questions we cannot answer when it comes to the loss of one so loved and needed. Simply pursuing a lawsuit for malpractice loads up the burden of this loss unless you are prepared to address the many aspects. Malpractice is the tip of the iceberg, not only for you, but for the many. To truly gift your mother and add meaning to her life, please consider letting others know who has and who has not met their promise to provide good care practice so that others may be spared the terrible grief you feel. And, gift yourself with the support of so many others who have and are, and will suffer as you have by listening to their stories.
Knowing you are not alone and can do something positive for others is more healing than you can imagine. If I may say so, I believe these efforts, with or without a lawsuit, would add positive memories of your mother, and acts of kindness performed by you in her name.
Please feel free to email me: valsavo@aol.com
Peace to you,
VLS
