Feb. 19--A Fayette County woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Uniontown Hospital, alleging its emergency room misdiagnosed a heart condition that resulted in her mother's death.

Amy Britt, of 111 E. Second St., Grindstone, filed the lawsuit Monday in civil court on behalf of the estate of her late mother, Faith Ann Shumar, 51.

In the lawsuit, Britt indicates Shumar died of a myocardial infarction on May 31, five days after she visited the hospital's emergency room with chest pain.

Through attorney Shanin Specter of Kline and Specter of Philadelphia, Britt alleges the hospital discharged Shumar on May 26 from its emergency department, despite having conducted a diagnostic test that found irregularities with Shumar's heart.

The test, an ECG, was conducted after Shumar complained of chest pain that radiated to her left arm and shortness of breath, the suit said.

The lawsuit alleges the hospital knew Shumar had risk factors for heart disease that included smoking and the death of her mother from a heart attack at age 46. Instead of admitting Shumar for more tests, the lawsuit alleges the hospital discharged her from the emergency room with a diagnosis of non-cardiac chest pain.

In addition to the hospital, the lawsuit names Dr. Marcy Goisse, an ER doctor, the emergency room, and a Pittsburgh-based company that provides staffing services for hospital emergency rooms, Emergency Resource Management Inc.

Karen Dei Cas, spokeswoman for the hospital, could not be reached yesterday for comment.

Liz Zemba is a Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-601-2166 or via e-mail.

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