Overview
A major audit of pediatric heart care at Ryhov Hospital in Jönköping County has revealed troubling misjudgments in a substantial number of cases closed by a former physician. The review, triggered by concerns from the hospital’s new heart team and public reporting, has led to dozens of recalls and a broader look at more than 700 patient records dating back to 2014.
What happened at Ryhov Hospital
The physician in question worked at the regional hospital from 2014 to 2022. In the later years, the hospital’s cardiology department closed nearly 500 cases under this doctor. Following a systematic review, investigators concluded that about 78 children should be called back for re-evaluation. Of these, around 40 are expected to require follow-up care, with six cases already identified as needing a surgical intervention in the near term. Questions centered on both the quality of examinations and the interpretation of echocardiograms (ultrasounds) used to diagnose heart defects in children.
How the review unfolded
The process began after local media reported concerns raised by Ryhov’s new heart team about cases that seemed inconsistently managed. An initial review focused on five cases that appeared in the hospital’s caseload, and one case was later reported to the national patient safety agency, Lex Maria. The Inspektionen för vård och omsorg (IVO) found that the hospital had taken steps to prevent repetition, and the concerned clinician no longer worked there. Yet the seriousness of the issue prompted a broader, systematic audit of all patients discharged by the physician, including earlier years.
As the investigation widened, authorities decided to review not only the 2018–2022 cohort but also earlier records from 2014–2017. In total, more than 700 journal files are being scrutinized, and about 250 additional records have been added to the review to ensure that no pattern of misjudgment has been overlooked. The hospital’s leadership has stressed that this is not a common occurrence, but one that demands thorough examination and corrective action when needed.
Impact on families
Among the affected families is Emelie Skörd Björnberg, whose daughter Eliza was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at birth. Eliza’s heart hole—an opening between the heart’s chambers—led to a diagnosis of a serious health condition when she was a baby. At age one, Eliza was told she was cured, a moment her mother describes as a profound relief. Years later, Eliza’s doctors confirmed that the heart defect persists, and she was re-admitted to care. The family’s experience illustrates how a premature “friskförklarad” (cleared for normal activity) status can complicate ongoing medical conditions that require monitoring and, in some cases, intervention.
The incident has sparked concern among other families, some of whom have sought reassurances and clearer guidance from clinicians about the future plan for their children. The emotional toll—fear, confusion, and ongoing anxiety about heart health—has underscored the need for transparent communication and consistent follow-up procedures in pediatric cardiology.
The path forward
The physician at the center of the review has not been allowed to see patients while investigations proceed. The hospital, in agreement with the clinician, has reassigned him to other duties as the review moves forward. For children who require surgery or more intensive treatment, the next stop remains the Barnhjärtcentrum in Lund, where the physician has worked since 2022. Lund’s center has initiated an additional review to ensure that any cross-regional implications are fully understood and addressed. In the meantime, clinicians say that families will be contacted individually and that all concerns will be addressed in a careful, stepwise manner.
Why this matters for pediatric care
Beyond resolving the current cases, the investigation highlights important questions about pediatric cardiology practice: the reliability of non-invasive heart imaging, the consistency of treatment decisions, and the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable patients. Regional health authorities emphasize that patient safety remains the top priority and that the investigation’s findings will guide improvements in training, oversight, and quality control across the child heart care pathway. Families and clinicians alike are awaiting the full findings and the concrete steps to prevent a recurrence while safeguarding the health and trust of children with congenital heart conditions.
