Blood Clots (Pulmonary Embolism)
Medical Malpractice Attorneys Representing People in Baltimore and Other Maryland Cities
Unfortunately, a leading cause of preventable deaths during hospitalization in Maryland is pulmonary embolism. Medical professionals often fail to identify and respond to pulmonary embolisms appropriately. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a medical professional’s failure to diagnose or treat a blood clot, you need to reach out to a Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. At the Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek, we are committed to getting our clients the compensation they are entitled to receive for their harm. We understand the consequences of pulmonary embolism on a patient’s life.
The Impact of Blood Clots (Pulmonary Embolism)
Some people are more at risk of developing blood clots than others. The medical name for this is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). According to the Mayo Clinic, DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more deep veins in a person’s body, usually in the thigh, the lower leg, or the pelvic area. DVT can be life-threatening if the blood clot moves to the lungs – a condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Put another way, a PE is a blood clot lodged in the lungs' blood vessels and either partially or wholly blocks an artery. In rare cases, it can travel to other parts of the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 60,000 to 100,000 Americans die yearly from pulmonary embolism.
Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of pulmonary embolism. For example, patients who have undergone surgery lasting more than two hours may be at greater risk for PE. Other examples include dehydrated patients, patients with heart disease, people with a family history of blood clots, prolonged air or car travel, pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, and people who smoke cigarettes. Of course, this list is not exhaustive.
Medical professionals are trained to recognize pulmonary embolisms at various stages. When symptoms of the condition are misunderstood or minimized, the consequences can be devastating. Malpractice in pulmonary embolism can happen in several ways, including failing to diagnose PE promptly, completely failing to recognize PE, or treating PE appropriately. With a timely diagnosis, however, people can survive DVT/PE and resume their normal lives.
If this does not happen, our attorneys can assist you with bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted medical standard of care, causing injuries or death to a patient. In the context of pulmonary embolism, a malpractice claim may be appropriate if the doctor has deviated from the standard of care by failing to recognize and treat PE in a situation in which a reasonably prudent doctor would have recognized and treated the condition. In some cases, a patient may be able to file a malpractice claim if pulmonary embolism results from a drug side effect.
These injuries can range in severity. In the most serious cases, pulmonary embolism can lead to death. This injury or loss is devastating and can be very financially burdensome. If you find yourself in this situation, you can recover various economic and non-economic damages. In Maryland, plaintiffs will typically recover compensation for lost wages, medical bills, future care costs, and pain and suffering.
Contact a Baltimore Attorney to Discuss a Potential Personal Injury Claim
Suppose you or someone close to you has suffered harm because a medical professional failed to diagnose a blood clot. In that case, you need to contact an experienced malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek, we can meticulously analyze the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. We represent patients and their families in Baltimore, Pikesville, Catonsville, Towson, Woodlawn, Dundalk, Essex, Randallstown, Arbutus, Reisterstown, Laurel, Silver Springs, and other areas of Baltimore, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel Counties.
