Legal Assistance for Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism

An embolism can be anything that moves throughout the body, including a blood clot, plaque, or inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when an artery in the lung becomes blocked, typically by blood clots. If blood clots travel from the legs or other parts of the body to the lungs, the outcome can be a PE. In some cases, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can turn into PE when a clot from deeper veins travels to the lungs. Symptoms of PE can include chest pain, shortness of breath, hypoxia and a cough with bloody sputum. Other symptoms can include sweating, lightheadedness, fever, clammy skin, irregular heartbeat, or leg pain/swelling.

People with previous blood clots or PE that runs in the family are at higher risk of developing PEs. Heart disease, cancer, and prior surgeries also increase the risk of PE. It is a healthcare provider’s job to listen to a patient’s symptoms, review his/her medical records for conditions that may put the patient at greater risk of PE, and to order tests such as blood tests, chest x-rays, CT’s and ultrasounds to further help diagnose this issue. If caught early, patients can treat PE with blood thinners, blood clot removal, or vein filters to catch clots before they reach the lungs.  PE is a treatable condition if it is caught timely.

Although both common and treatable, PE is a serious condition that can be fatal without treatment. If left untreated, a PE can restrict breathing, contribute to a heart attack, and result in death. Delayed diagnosis or failed diagnosis greatly increases the risk of death from pulmonary embolism. If a doctor recently failed to diagnose you or a loved one’s PE in Florida, talk to our lawyers to find out if you might qualify for financial compensation from the at-fault party. You might be able to bring a claim against an individual doctor, nurse, or hospital.