East Greenwich doctor, 48, died of heart disease
12:48 PM Tue, Apr 14, 2009 | Permalink
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Dr. Michael Wiggins, 48, of East Greenwich, the prominent orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor who died while he was on a family trip to Colorado last week, was the victim of "severe heart disease," according to a statement from the coroner of Summit County, Colo. An autopsy was performed last week. Coroner Joanne Richardson said that Wiggins had more than one coronary arterial blockage. Wiggins lost consciousness while he was riding in a chair lift with his family at the Breckenridge Ski Resort April 8 and could not be revived. He and his wife, Dr. Doreen Wiggins, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Women and Infants Hospital, had traveled to Colorado to watch two of their five children compete in a national snowboarding competition. The funeral will be Thursday at 11:00 am in Christ Church, 1025 Main Street, East Greenwich. Calling hours are Wednesday from 2 to 8 pm in the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 142 Centerville Road (Rt. 117), Warwick. 
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Most of you folks probably think of New Hampshire and Vermont when you see the words "ski resort." You have no conception of just how high the mountains in Colorado are. I've been to the top of the ski runs at Breck - it's over 13,000 feet in elevation. Not something a person with a bum ticker should even think about attempting.
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Mystifies me that a physician involved in sports medicine does not get himself checked out..I cannot believe that there was never an indication of heart disease if the story is right.
Sounds more like denial.
Old saying is that a doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient.
so sad, so young
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Are there any good tests to diagnose serious blockage?
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I'm sure the family of this man who tragically died and left behind his wife and five kids prematurely would really appreciate the comments of wonderman and colorado guy...very sensitive. My heart goes out to this family, and I'm sad that some people don't choose more appropriate venues/contexts to voice their opinions.
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Colorado Guy - Get over yourself.
Wonderman - I'm glad you have all the facts and medical history. I've missed that update.
On a more positive note, as a past patient, it was like visiting a brilliant friend. Comfortable, personal and a hell of a surgeon. Complete tears on both achilles (2 years apart) and he repaired both and I was back to basketball and dunking like before. It truly is a loss to the community.
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I'm with "A two time patient of the doc."
Anyone who has a negative or snippy little comment about this tragedy should keep it to themselves.
Have some class and keep your mouth shut.
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I'm very upset with the way a few people are responding to this. Dr. Michael Wiggins is in my extended family and we were very close. So please, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. This was a very, very hard loss for our family to cope with. Thank you for all who've been very nice.
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