Timeline of Events
2019–2022
I received care within the Swedish system for cardiac-related symptoms, including primary care, cardiology, and emergency department visits.
January 2023 – Angiogram at Swedish
I underwent a cardiac angiogram at Swedish Medical Center. During that procedure, I sustained a coronary artery injury.
During the procedure
While under sedation, I briefly regained awareness. I observed another individual wearing full procedural protective equipment, including a gown and face shield. I also observed that Dr. John L. Petersen was not wearing a gown.
Immediately afterward
The injury required emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). I did not sign permission for that surgery.
Consent and disclosure issues
Before the angiogram, I was not given other options and I was not given details of the risks until the procedure. The angiogram consent form I received did not say the procedure could result in bypass surgery.
After the injury
The injury was downplayed to me. I later learned that my heart and lung were permanently damaged. I also later developed a newer issue for which I am still seeking help.
2023–Present – Record requests
I began submitting HIPAA requests for my complete Swedish record. In my experience, Swedish has still not produced all records pertaining to me over the full course of my relationship with the hospital.
Public and institutional context
I confirmed that Dr. John L. Petersen worked at both Swedish and Virginia Mason during the same time period. I also found that his father appears to have worked at Swedish previously, and that his name or his father’s name appears on a Swedish donor list.
Court records reviewed
I reviewed the case Leonardo C. Mariano v. Swedish Cardiac Surgery and also found a court record involving a similar name, John Peterson / John Petersen, in connection with another angiogram-related injury.