Deep vein thrombosis, commonly known as DVT, is a medical condition where blood clots form in the deep veins of the body, usually in the legs. If the condition is not treated in a timely manner, the blood clots will travel through your veins and enter the lungs and other vital organs.
DVT can develop after you have surgery, especially if you are required to stay in the hospital afterwards. Deep vein thrombosis can also occur after a serious accident, which is why doctors have to keep an eye out for the signs of blood clot formations and treat the condition immediately.
If you suffered health complications as a result of misdiagnosed of untreated DVT at an Orange County medical facility, you may have grounds to sue the doctor for medical malpractice. For more information on filing a claim for doctor negligence, contact a deep vein thrombosis medical malpractice lawyer in Orange County, CA.
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What are the Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
The development of blood clots in the extremities can happen to anyone for a number of reasons. However, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis. These include a history of blood clots in your family, being older than 60, obesity, smoking, and long periods of immobility.
Even if you are not at risk, factors that the patient can’t control, like negligence by a doctor or nursing home abuse, can also increase the potential for deep vein thrombosis.
Deep Vein Thrombosis after an Accident
Being involved in an accident can cause unexpected health complications, including DVT. The trauma from an accident causes your body to go into overdrive, and this is a normal reaction that’s due to the body’s desire to heal itself. This process may involve blood clots forming in the deep veins, which can have dangerous consequences. That’s why you should always obtain medical care after an accident, since early testing and preventative measures are the best way to protect your health.
Possible accidents that can result in the development of deep vein thrombosis include:
- Car crashes
- Slip and fall or trip and fall
- Being struck with a falling object (crushing injuries)
- Bicycle or motorcycle accident
- Accidents on public transportation
- Injured as a pedestrian
Deep Vein Thrombosis Due to Nursing Home Neglect
Senior citizens are already at risk of developing DVT, especially if they have limited mobility and stay in one position for long periods of time. As you are probably aware, many residents at nursing homes are confined to their beds for much of the day, and the restricted blood flow can cause a number of painful and debilitating conditions, including deep vein thrombosis.
Sadly, a lot of nursing homes are poorly managed, understaffed, or staffed with people who are inexperienced or abusive. In short, nursing home neglect and abuse puts many patients at risk of injuries and complications associated with DVT. This is unacceptable when there are perfectly reasonable ways to prevent the condition, like changing positions in bed, wearing compression stockings, and taking short walks during the day. If the patient is unable to walk, there are leg exercises that can be done in bed to promote blood flow.
Medical Malpractice for Deep Vein Thrombosis
The truth is, deep vein thrombosis is easily preventable, but there are far too many healthcare professionals that fail to recognize the symptoms. And many patients in hospitals throughout Orange County suffer needlessly because of a physician’s failure to provide adequate care.
In these situations, the patient is always at a disadvantage, since they lack the knowledge, training, and expertise to diagnose themselves. Essentially, we have no choice but to rely on doctors for a proper diagnosis or treatment plan in the event we already have a specific medical condition. If your doctor and other medical staff at the facility failed to diagnose DVT or provide you with the right treatment, you may be eligible for compensation from a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Deep Vein Thrombosis – What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of deep vein thrombosis do not appear right away, and some patients may have little to no symptoms. However, the majority of people will have some of all of the following issues, which are classic indicators of DVT:
- Throbbing / aching pain
- Swelling
- Redness / discoloration
- Skin is unusually warm
- Swollen veins
Make sure to notify your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms. Immediate testing and treatment are the keys to reducing the formation of blood clots and preventing them from traveling to your lungs and other organs.
Complications Associated with Deep Vein Thrombosis
When deep vein thrombosis is ignored or treated improperly, the consequences can be fatal for the patient. One of the biggest concerns with DVT is the development of pulmonary embolism, where the blood clot enters the lungs. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:
- Breathing problems (shortness of breath)
- Increased pulse rate
- Chest pain
- Dizziness and/or fainting
- Coughing that may produce blood
Please note that there is a high risk of death from this condition, so it’s essential that you get to a hospital right away. Here are some other complications from deep vein thrombosis that can cause death:
- Stroke – a cerebral embolism can develop in your brain when a blood clot restricts the flow of blood. Cerebral embolisms are responsible for around 15% of all strokes, and deep vein thrombosis is typically where the problem starts.
- Postphlebitic Syndrome – rather than a blood clot that travels through the vein, this condition has to do with cutting off the supply of blood, which can cause tissue death (necrosis) and other severe injuries.
Compensation that May be Available to You
An Orange County medical malpractice lawyer can fight for maximum payment on your behalf if you are a victim of undiagnosed or failure to treat deep vein thrombosis. Monetary damages from a lawsuit may include some or all of the following:
- Cost of medical treatments, medications, and auxiliary services
- Lost wages from your job, including value of lost job benefits
- Lost earning capacity if the harm you suffered has impaired your ability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
- Cost of hiring a lawyer
Contact Normandie Law Firm
The legal team of Normandie Law Firm has the education, resources, and track record of recovery to fight for you and the compensation you deserve.
Our law firm has a long history of representing clients in Orange County who were injured or lost a loved one because of negligence at a healthcare facility. We also have a Zero Fee Guarantee policy, meaning there is no out of pocket cost to you as the client. Legal fees are recovered from the party at fault, and we only receive payment by winning your case.
To learn morae about us and how we can assist you in a case for health complications caused by deep vein thrombosis, contact us to schedule a free consultation.
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