Failure to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood clot travels from one part of your body and blocks an artery located in your lungs. If an individual does not receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment for a pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis, there is a high chance of death. Nearly one-third of people that have an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism die from the condition. With timely diagnosis and treatment, people can survive and live a long and fulfilling life.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a failure to diagnose a pulmonary embolism in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at Levine & Glassman can review your case and determine whether or negligence was the cause for the failure to diagnose the pulmonary embolism.

Florida Attorneys on failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman are experienced personal injury attorneys who have handled several medical malpractice cases. Lisa Levine has extensive experience representing individuals in failure to diagnose cases such as failure to diagnose breast cancer and uterine cancer. Mark Glassman has helped several families bring wrongful death suits against hospitals and physicians. Contact the attorneys at Levine & Glassman at (954) 332-6100 for a free consultation about your failure to diagnose a pulmonary embolism case.

Pulmonary Embolism Information Center

• What causes a pulmonary embolism?
• What are the signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism?
• Why do physicians miss pulmonary embolisms?
• What are the treatments for a pulmonary embolism?
• How we can help

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What causes a pulmonary embolism?

A pulmonary embolus is caused by a blood clot somewhere else in the body. Usually blood clots can occur in the leg, abdominal cavity or the arms. There are certain factors that increase the risk of getting a blood clot that will result in a pulmonary embolism:

• Prolonged immobilization (ex: sitting in a car or plane for an hours)M
• Any damage to the walls of the veins (ex: trauma to the lower leg)
• Increased clotting potential of the blood (ex: medications, smoking, birth control)

Once a person gets a blood clot, anything can knock the clot into the blood stream. Once the blood clot gets into smaller vessels and capillaries, it can cause a blockage. If the blockage occurs in the brain it can be labeled a stroke and a blood clot in the heart can cause a heart attack. A blood clot that lodges into the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism.

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What are the signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism?

Some common signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:

• Chest pain
• Leg pain
• Labored breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness
• Persistent cough

If you have any of these symptoms coupled with the risk factors for blood clots, it would be a good idea to see a doctor to make sure that you do not have blood clots or a pulmonary embolism.

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Why do physicians miss pulmonary embolisms?

The signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism mimics other conditions. For example, an individual presenting to the emergency room with chest pain could mistakenly be diagnosed as having a heart attack. A persistent cough could be a sign of some respiratory illness like bronchitis.

However, emergency room staff and other health care professional may miss a pulmonary embolism due to negligence. The following actions are considered negligent in the context of a medical malpractice case:

• Failure to recognize symptoms of a pulmonary embolism
• Failure to perform angiograms
• Failure to monitor in the emergency room
• Misdiagnosis or treatment of the wrong condition

Even though the signs and symptoms of the pulmonary embolism can look like other conditions, it is up to the medical staff to rule out those things and make the correct diagnosis. If the symptoms can be several things, the doctor needs to conduct the proper tests to conclusively rule out a pulmonary embolism.

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What are the treatments for a pulmonary embolism?

The easiest thing to do is prevent a pulmonary embolism before it starts. If doctors can treat blood clots, then the risk of a pulmonary embolism is greatly reduced. The signs and symptoms of a blood clot are:

• Hot, swollen calf
• Shortness of breath
• Pulsating pain
• Sweating
• Faintness

If doctors can identify these symptoms as a blood clot and treat it with blood thinners, hopefully the blood clot will dissolve before it turns lethal. To diagnose blood clots, doctors can employ tests such as a venous Doppler study to see if there are blood clots in the legs. An EKG or an ultrasound of the heart to check for blood clots in the heart. If blood clots are found, doctors can prescribe anticoagulants to dissolve the blood clot.

If the doctors do not catch the blood clot and the individual actually gets a pulmonary embolism there is little time to act. The person must be given emergency surgery in order to save their life. It depends on whether the blood clot lodges in a main artery or not. Eventually the blocked area will die causing serious problems and eventually death if not treated.

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How we can help

If you or a loved one has suffered a pulmonary embolism, it is important to consult with an attorney to determine if you have a viable medical malpractice case. If the medical staff had a duty to find the pulmonary, breached that duty, and the breach caused damages, then you may have a medical malpractice case.

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Levine & Glassman, P.A. – Florida Pulmonary Embolism Lawyers

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman have experience at evaluating and pursuing personal injury and medical malpractice claims in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. Contact our firm at (954) 332-6100 or using out online contact form and one of our attorneys will evaluate your potential medical malpractice case, explain the process of filing such a claim, and answer any other questions you may have.