Failure to Diagnose Blood Clots

Blood clots are a natural response to injury, serving to prevent excessive bleeding. When they form within blood vessels without apparent injury or fail to dissolve naturally, though, they can present serious health risks. Therefore, timely diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately, many doctors may overlook signs of blood clots, carelessly causing their patients significant harm. If you suffered losses due to a doctor's failure to diagnose blood clots, you have the right to pursue medical malpractice claims, and you should speak to an attorney promptly. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers our experienced Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers are equipped to hold negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm they cause, and if you hire us, we will vigorously advocate on your behalf. We regularly represent people harmed by medical negligence in the pursuit of claims in Syracuse, Rochester, and cities throughout Upstate New York.

Blood clots are gel-like masses formed by the body's natural defense mechanism to stop bleeding when blood vessels are injured. They can occur inside veins or arteries, disrupting normal blood flow. Symptoms of blood clots depend on their location. In deep veins, such as those in the legs or arms, symptoms may include swelling, pain, warmth, and redness. If a clot travels to the lungs, symptoms can include chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, and coughing up blood. Blood clots in the brain can cause symptoms such as severe headaches, vision changes, weakness, and difficulty speaking or understanding speech.

Doctors diagnose blood clots through a combination of medical history review, physical examination, and imaging tests like ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs. They may also conduct blood tests to check for clotting disorders or markers of clot formation. Timely diagnosis is crucial because blood clots can lead to serious complications like pulmonary embolism or stroke if left untreated.

Detecting and treating blood clots promptly can prevent potentially life-threatening events and reduce the risk of long-term complications. As such, the failure to diagnose blood clots can have devastating consequences and may be grounds for pursuing medical malpractice claims.

In New York, most plaintiffs in medical malpractice lawsuits will assert negligence claims against the defendant. To establish the negligence of a defendant medical professional, the plaintiff has to demonstrate the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. Generally, this duty, which stems from the treatment relationship, is to provide care that complies with the applicable standard, which is what a competent professional in the same specialty would consider the good and accepted practice of medicine. The plaintiff then has to show that the defendant deviated from the standard of care. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s departure from the standard of care caused the plaintiff to suffer actual losses.

As the judge or jury determining fault and damages in medical malpractice cases typically lack an independent understanding of the standard of care that applies to doctors, the plaintiff will likely need to hire an expert to explain the standard of care, explain how the defendant neglected to uphold the standard and link the defendant’s failures to the plaintiff’s harm. Expert testimony may also be needed to quantify the plaintiff’s damages.

The failure to diagnose blood clots frequently results in severe and enduring injuries. If you were harmed due to a doctor's failure to detect blood clots, you might be eligible to pursue medical malpractice claims, and you should talk to a lawyer. The knowledgeable Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers can provide guidance on your legal options and assist you in seeking the maximum compensation available under the law. Our main office is in Syracuse, and we frequently represent people in medical malpractice cases in Syracuse as well as in Rochester and other cities throughout Upstate New York. You can reach us to arrange a complimentary and confidential meeting by calling us at 833-200-2000 or through our online form.