Blood clots are a very serious issue that should never be overlooked. This serious medical complication can happen for a number of reasons and is noted when blood cells clump together and coagulate. Blood clots can form in any portion of the circulatory system, and depending on the movement and location, is referred to as an embolus or a thrombus. Since blood clots can impair or stop the flow of blood to and from the heart, they are an extremely serious risk that can be fatal. This is because the clots can cause strokes and heart attacks. There are some cases when blood clots can be prevented and their seriousness diminished when proper and quick treatment is provided to the patient.
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or has died because of a blood clot that was not properly treated by a physician or other medical staff, it is important to understand that you have legal rights. You should not delay in contacting a personal injury attorney to discuss your options and review the details of your case.
Blood clots are a very scary issue that often causes people to become quite alarmed when the topic is brought up. This is not without good reason. Blood clots that are either completely or partially lodged can cause an obstruction that restricts the blood from flowing normally and prevents oxygen from reaching the major organs of the body. This can cause a very serious condition that is called ischemia. If the ischemia is not treated properly and in a timely manner, serious complications such as damage to the organs or death can result.
It is for these reasons that it is extremely important that blood clots are caught, caught quickly, and treated in a prompt manner. Other serious medical complications that can result from blood clots not being prevented or diagnosed quickly include: heart attacks, stroke, permanent kidney damage, angina, death, and other life threatening situations.
Blood clots can form in a number of ways because of a variety of circumstances. Sometimes clots form following a surgical procedure, and blood thinning medications and/or exercises should be administered to keep the blood from thickening and coagulating. Other times certain forms of medication can cause side effects that can lead to blood clotting. Doctors and medical staff should be aware of each patient's risk for developing blood clots and should provide continual monitoring to catch a clot quickly.
Checking patients for clots involves visual inspections, checking for fever, administering preventive medication, and alerting the appropriate staff as to any type of suspicion of a clot. Proper tests also need to be conducted should a blood clot be suspected. These tests include scans, imaging tests, and in some cases, the use of specialized dye. If this is not done, or if this is not done on a regular schedule, a form of medical malpractice or negligence may have occurred.
There are a number of consequences that can result from blood clots not being prevented or caught quickly. Heart attacks can be suffered, as well as strokes, and the patient could die. In other cases a limb may be lost, or organs can be permanently damaged.
When the patient does survive, there can be a great need for a variety of medical treatments. These medical treatments are not only painful in some cases, extensive, and invasive, they can also be extremely expensive. This can place the patient under a great deal of stress both physically and mentally, as well as place them in harm's way for financial ruin.
This should not be allowed to ever happen to patients. Doctors, hospitals, and medical staff owe patients a duty of care to do no harm and provide the best possible, most complete forms of treatment. When this duty of care is breached, for any reason, patients have a legal right to take action against the wrongdoer, and seek compensation for their injuries.
Regardless of intent, if a medical professional fails to prevent a blood clot for any reason, it is a form of medical malpractice. Victims should not sit idly by and allow these mistakes to go unpunished while having to endure the side effects and consequences.
You should not hesitate to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after you or a loved one has been the victim of a careless medical professional who failed to prevent a blood clot. These legal professionals are your best line of defense, and can help you to recover monetary damages for your losses such as medical bills (past, present, and future), loss of income, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and in some cases, for punitive damages. Punitive damages are nothing more than a type of punishment handed down by the court system in an effort to prevent future acts of a similar nature.
These types of cases can be quite complex, and they should not be attempted on your own without a legal professional's assistance. Since there is a need to prove wrongdoing, and this proof must be substantiated with medical records, testimony, and the like, missing just one small detail can make or break your case.
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing until the time your case is settled. This can remove a great deal of worry about how to afford bringing forth a lawsuit, while trying to repair the broken pieces of your life. A personal injury attorney will manage your case on your behalf with the utmost care and professionalism. This will allow you to focus your attention on much more important matters, such as your personal recovery, while being able to rest assured that your legal suit is in the best hands. With so much to gain and so little to lose, do not risk being a victim twice; hold those responsible accountable and take action to seek the justice you most definitely deserve to recover.