Failure To Diagnose Blood Clots

Blood clots are a normal part of the body's response to injury to prevent excessive bleeding. When blood clots form inside blood vessels without an apparent injury or fail to dissolve naturally, however, they can pose significant health risks. As such, it is essential that they are diagnosed in a timely manner. Tragically, though, many doctors overlook the signs of blood clots, and their patients ultimately suffer grave harm due to their carelessness. If you were hurt due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose blood clots, you have the right to pursue medical malpractice claims against them, and you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys possess the skills and resources needed to hold negligent medical professionals liable for the harm they cause, and if you hire us, we will zealously pursue any damages you may be owed.

Blood clots, also known as thrombosis, pose a significant health risk, and a prompt diagnosis is crucial to prevent potentially fatal complications. The symptoms of blood clots vary depending on their location within the body. Deep vein thrombosis often presents with swelling, warmth, and tenderness in the affected limb, typically the leg, along with pain or cramping sensation. Pulmonary embolism, on the other hand, may cause sudden, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and feeling lightheaded or faint. Finally, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis can manifest as a severe headache, blurred vision, seizures, and changes in mental status.

Blood clots are typically diagnosed via ultrasound imaging and X-rays using contrast dye. CT scans and MRIs are often used to diagnose blood clots in the brain and lungs. If blood clots are not diagnosed and treated, they can cause critical harm, including organ damage, stroke, chronic pain, neurological deficits, and death.

If a patient experiences complications due to an undiagnosed blood clot, the doctor responsible for their care may be deemed liable for medical malpractice. In Maryland, a plaintiff seeking damages for harm caused by a physician generally must demonstrate negligence. This involves establishing that the defendant had a duty to provide the plaintiff with treatment that complied with the appropriate standard of care, which is the level of care that a competent doctor in the same specialty would typically provide in a similar situation. The plaintiff must then prove that the defendant deviated from this standard. Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the damages they suffered were directly caused by the defendant's departure from the standard by showing that their injuries would not have occurred if the defendant had provided appropriate treatment.

In most medical malpractice cases, the plaintiff will need to offer testimony from a medical expert to establish both liability and damages. Typically, this expert will be someone practicing in the same field as the defendant. Other qualified healthcare providers may be permitted to offer expert opinions in certain scenarios, though. The role of the expert is to explain the standard of care applicable to the case and how the defendant failed to meet that standard. Additionally, the expert will establish a link between the defendant's actions and the harm suffered by the plaintiff.

The plaintiff will usually need expert testimony to prove the extent of their damages as well. Specifically, they will need to engage an expert who can explain the nature, severity, and permanency of the injuries sustained. This testimony typically includes establishing that any treatment received for complications arising from the defendant's failure to diagnose a blood clot was necessary reasonable and reasonable and explaining what treatment they will most likely require in the future. An economist can also offer expert testimony on the economic impact of the defendant’s actions on the plaintiff by calculating lost wages or estimating the loss of future earnings.

Blood clots that go undiagnosed often cause serious and lasting harm. If you suffered injuries because of a doctor’s failure to diagnose blood clots, you may have grounds for pursuing a medical malpractice claim, and you should consult a lawyer. The capable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group can inform you of your options and help you to pursue the full amount of damages recoverable under the law. We have an office in Baltimore, where we regularly represent people in medical malpractice lawsuits. You can contact us through our form online or at (410) 889-1850 to set up a conference.