Food Poisoning Mistaken for Heart Failure
March 14, 2007 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
As you may be aware, ConAgra Foods has recalled Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter because batches beginning with the number 2111 could be tainted with salmonella bacteria. ConsumerAffairs.com has a report about Rose Haskins who developed severe vomiting and diarrhea after eating a jar of recalled peanut butter. She died a few days later. The 81-year-old’s doctor blamed heart failure as the cause of her death but her family found a jar of peanut butter in her bedroom.
Although there have been 425 salmonella cases reported since the recall was announced on March 7, no deaths have been recorded. And Rose’s death won’t be on the record either because no autopsy or official declaration of death was made.
To be honest, I have no idea how her physician could NOT have suspected food poisoning given her symptoms. Nothing in this signs and symptoms of heart failure chart from the American Heart Association suggests that severe nausea and diarrhea indicates heart failure. I don’t know if Rose’s family is considering legal action but I think it might be warranted.
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Tags: malpractice, heart failure, heart, heart disease, peter pan, peanut butter, conagra, salmonella, food poisoning, diseases, illness, health, rose haskins
