English National Health killed my grandfather. He was diagnosed as a hypochondriac. What he had was an aortic aneurysm. He bled to death from the inside. He would went in for pain and they gave him asprin, sent him home.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000162.htm
It is easily treatable with surgery before repure. Even today, less than 40% survive a rupture.