Legal Assistance for Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism

Did a medical professional misdiagnose your condition or failed to diagnose a loved one’s condition? Our medical malpractice attorneys are here to help. Call us today for a free case evaluation.

Written and edited by our team of expert legal content writers and reviewed and approved by Daniel Harwin

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Failure to diagnose (FTD) a pulmonary embolism can be deadly. At Freedland Harwin Valori, PL our lawyers have the passion, experience, and knowledge to handle even the most significant medical malpractice claims in Florida. We’ve gone up against major healthcare organizations in pursuit of compensation for our clients in the past and have what it takes to help your family. After a harmful pulmonary embolism incident, contact us for answers to your most pressing legal questions.

About Pulmonary Embolisms

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.

Are You a Victim of failure to diagnose and treat PE?

It can be difficult to recognize when an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism gives a patient grounds to file a medical malpractice claim in Florida. Unfortunately, not every case qualifies as malpractice, even if the patient suffers as a result. The patient must have evidence that the physician, hospital, or other party was negligent in some way, and that this negligence caused the patient’s damages. Compensable damages in the state of Florida include both economic and non-economic losses, including pain and suffering.

Working with a lawyer can help remove the burden of proof from your shoulders. Instead of it being your task to investigate your case, gather evidence, get copies of medical records, and hire experts to testify, your attorney would handle all of these steps for you. A lawyer can also take over communications and settlement negotiations with insurance companies, making sure major corporations don’t try to take advantage of you to offer a lower settlement. Our Florida firm operates on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you won’t pay our fees unless we win. Speak with an attorney today for more information.

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