According to Region Kalmar län, chief physician Elmar Keppel at Oskarshamn Hospital has filed a Lex Maria report following the death of a patient. The incident occurred on February 25, 2026, when an 80-year-old patient woke with symptoms that could indicate a stroke. After an examination of the patient's brain to rule out a brain hemorrhage as the cause of symptoms, clot-dissolving treatment was initiated.
Initially, the patient improved, but their condition quickly deteriorated, and a new examination revealed an extensive brain hemorrhage. The patient died several hours later. The healthcare provider states that administering clot-dissolving treatment when it's unclear when stroke symptoms began carries a significant risk of brain hemorrhages and requires special conditions.
According to the report, the handling of the case exposed the patient to serious healthcare injury and led to the patient's death. Region Kalmar län notes that they openly inform about all Lex Maria reports as part of their patient safety work, aiming to move from a punitive culture to a more preventive approach. The Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO) will review the internal investigation conducted by the hospital.