What is Pulmonary Embolism
By far the most common form of pulmonary embolism is a thromboembolism, which occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged from its site of formation an...
Join Now
|
grounds for a case??
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
I'm looking for suggestions on whether or not I should file a claim against my family doctor for not checking out my symptoms more. Any suggestsions will help!
My story: 2 months prior to DVT/PE, I presented to Dr with top/bottom left foot pain and swelling without injury. Dr diagnosed as plantar fasciatis on bottom of foot and tendonitis on top of foot. Approximately 3 weeks later saw Dr for different issue and casually mentioned that my left calf hurt. He didn't check it out since the other issue was MUCH more important (inexplicable rectal bleeding). Another 3 weeks later presented with pain in back of left knee, thigh, and groin. I asked about blood clots since I was on bc and smoked. Dr felt around my leg and said that blood clots feel like ropes; he didn't feel anything suspicious. Dr told me that I was probably getting arthritis in my knee, hence the pain in the back of my knee. He didn't order any exams or labs. Upon ER admittance 2 weeks later, doctors determined that i have extensive DVT in left leg and acute, extensive PE. Now, in my mind, if my doctor had followed up my concerns and higher risk for clots with an ultrasound, I might have avoided the whole "near death" experience. Anyone feel like this might or might not be grounds for a claim against my dr?? Is anyone a lawyer and able to give me feedback if this would stand up as a legitimate case?? Posted on 11/06/09, 09:11 pm |
| 7 Replies | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts Ignore |
times i wonder when i was 9 months pregnant i fell in a hole , on a city side walk,, i told my ob because my calf was swollen tender and bruised , when i delivered my son , i got a pe... I had 4 children b4 this with nooooo issues at all .... 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
My DVT was misdiagnosed by three different doctors and I ended up with a massive PE in both lungs. It was horribley traumatic, having been outside when it happened and no one was around.
But I didn't pursue legal action, although my husband mentioned it when I was in the hospital. But then we just were so happy I survived that we didn't discuss it further. I personally just couldn't really justify it, knowing it would take over my life, hiring an attorney, courts, costs. No, thanks. I did tell my doctor how upset I was with her and her collegue and she apologized repeatedly. I then fired her and found a new doc. For me, that was enough. DVTs and PEs are often misdiagnosed. I'd suspect it's hard to prove negligance. I'm not an attorney, so this is just my slant.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Mine happened due to being on ortho evera patch. I'm under 35 and don't smoke, so the doc said i would be fine. The lawyers I have spoken with seem to think I have a case against the pharamceutical company that make orth evera. I had a DVT that turned into several PE's (both lungs), as well as some pulminary infarctions. If I had not pursued the ER doctors to do the cat scan of my lungs, I would have been sent home with anti-biotics for pneumonia. Whether or not you have a case, count your blessings that they eventually did find the clots. I know someone whose sister dropped dead on a sidewalk because no one diagnosed her correctly. Consult a lawyer who specializers in medical malpractice and see if he/she thinks you have a case. You should be able to find one that gives free consulotations, and works on contingency...that way win or lose, you won't pay anything.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
From what I undertand PE's & DVT's are really hard to diagnose; this having been said if you feel strongly about it you should seek advice from a lawyer.
I didn't get any symptoms prior to the PE appearing in my lungs. There was a 2 week period between when I developed the symptoms and when I was admitted to hospital, which my doctors are amazed with. During this time I saw three GP's and turned up at ER and no one picked it up. Like a lot of people I felt like I had no where to turn. I knew that I felt unwell but after being turned away from ER after waiting 5 hours and being told that it would atleast be another 5 hour wait to be admitted becuase they thought that my breathing was getting worse because I was more anxious, I was unsure of whether I was genuinly sick. At first I was keen to sue the doctors but found in the end that calling them and letting them know what I actually had wrong was enough. Most of them were extremely apologetic and mortified that i was so close to death as a result of their misdiagnosis. As said previously, if you want to sue then you should definately look into it, but for me knowing that I was alive and telling them that they were wrong was enough for me. Thanks, M
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
A major study back in 2005 reported by Dr. John Heit of the Mayo Clinic to the American Society for Hematology (ASH) found that of the estimated about 300,000 Americans die each year due to blood clots. Of that same number, only 7% were diagnosed and being treated as having a DVT. Another things, some of those deaths were attributed to other conditions (cancer) but it turned out during autopsy that a blood clot killed the patients not the cancer:
http://abstracts.hematologylibrary...
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
The second paragraph at http://www.stoptheclot.org/learn_m... pretty much sums up the common experience. Many of us were near death before we got properly diagnosed or properly treated. I even got the doppler and had a "superficial" clot diagnosed and was sent home untreated for it to become a PE weeks later. Efforts such as those of NATT and the surgeon general's call to action are meant to improve the situation. These efforts seem to be working somewhat.
I too have wondered if there is potential for a lawsuit, at least to cover the costs of lifelong management of the damage. Were it not for my aversion toward lawyers outweighing the equivocation of doctors, I would have retained a lawyer long ago.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Hmmm, some of us are lawyers.......and decent people to boot.
Anyway, this isn't legal advice. I wouldn't sue. Proving that the docs failed to meet the standard of care is going to be tough. Most everyone has a misdiagnosis story. Mine lasted 5 weeks before they figured out what it was... at any rate, if you are interested you should consult with an atty in your area to see what they think Chris
|
|
|
|
||
| Add Your Reply |
