A coronial inquest is underway investigating the death of a Melbourne mother who suffered an anaphylactic reaction to dye used in a heart test.

Peta Hickey had no medical history of cardiac problems she was invited to take part in a Cardiac Health Assessment by her employer, Programmed in March, 2019.

On May 1 that year, the 43-year-old mother went to Future Medical Imaging Group in Moonee Ponds for the scan.

A coronial inquest is underway investigating the death of Melbourne mother Peta Hickey. (Nine)

Contrast Dye was administered intravenously and a scan was performed.

Shortly after, she began vomiting and losing consciousness.

A radiologist, Dr Gavin Tseng, was called back into the room and treated her, administering medicine but not adrenaline and asked for an ambulance to be called.

There she experienced complications and had her right leg amputated.

Ms Hickey suffered an an anaphylactic reaction to the contrast dye used in the heart test. (Nine)

She never regained consciousness and died eight days later.

Ms Hickey left behind her partner Richard and two young children.

The coroner will investigate what information the radiologist had about Ms Hickey before the scan.

The policies and procedures in place at the various companies involved in the heart check program will also be investigated.
The 43-year-old mother had no medical history of cardiac problems. (Nine)

The court heard the push to provide employees with cardiac checks came after a senior executive at Ms Hickey’s workplace suffered a heart attack while on an overseas trip.

Chris Sutherland, who was the Managing Director of Programmed at the time, said he never directly received any medical advice about the appropriateness of that particular test for someone with no symptoms of heart issues.

The inquest is expected to run for three weeks.



This content first appear on 9news

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