Blood Clot Claims

Jodi Newton

Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Blood Clot Claims

Blood clots – general risks

Blood clots are not uncommon and there are multiple reasons for the formation of blood clots including taking the contraceptive pill, undergoing surgery, and immobility such as sitting in a car or airplane for a long journey.

Thrombosis UK were recently quoted as saying that “many people have little or no understanding about the causes and effects of thrombosis, and how it can be prevented”. Blood clots are a leading cause of death in the UK and claims the life of one in four people who develop this condition. Importantly, if treated early and doctors/patients know the signs to look out for, they can resolve with minimal long-term health issues. The most commonly used treatments for prevention and resolution of blood clots are anti-coagulant medication (which thins the blood) or stockings, often described as TED (Thrombo-Embolus Deterrent) stockings.

A deep vein thrombosis (“DVT”) occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body and usually will start in the lower leg. It can develop into a fatal condition when the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lung and/other vital organs which causes a pulmonary embolism (“PE”). Prompt treatment is important and can be life-saving.

Signs and symptoms of a DVT can include the following:

• Swelling usually in one leg or arm. Rarely there is swelling in both limbs;
• Pain or tenderness usually in the leg. The pain usually starts in the calf and can feel like cramping;
• Skin discolouration usually blue/red/purple and on the leg;
• A sensation of warmth in the skin.

Signs and symptoms of a PE will often include:

• Shortness of breath;
• Chest pain;
• Coughing.

Another blood clotting condition is thrombocytopenia which develops when the blood platelet count is so low that the blood cannot clot efficiently and internal bleeding can occur. Common signs/symptoms are:

• Easy or excessive bruising;
• Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash or small reddish-purple spots on the lower legs;
• Excess bleeding from cuts;
• Bleeding from gums or nose;
• Blood in urine or stools;
• Excess menstrual bleeding;
• Fatigue.

Who is at greater risk of suffering a DVT?

What strikes me from the cases I have run relating to the misdiagnosis of DVTs is that it can occur in people of all ages, male/female, and what I find most concerning is that some of my clients have been apparently very healthy and therefore it has not occurred to them nor their doctor that they may be experiencing symptoms of a DVT or PE. A common thread running through my cases have been clients who have a low BMI, are physically active, non-smokers, young and are essentially healthy people but have suffered sporting injuries and then developed the DVTs during a period of immobility either as a result of surgery or a lower leg cast. On the other hand, other DVT cases have featured people who are at higher risk of DVT or PE but their doctors have failed to recognise this and act on suspicious symptoms.

A DVT is more likely in patients who are:

• Over 60;
• Smokers;
• Overweight;
• Previous history of DVT;
• Taking the contraceptive pill or HRT;
• Cancer patients;
• Recent lower leg surgery or a period of immobility;
• A history of varicose veins;
• Pregnant.

How our medical negligence lawyers can help

Jodi Newton is a clinical negligence solicitor who specialises in cases involving issues relating to blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. For advice please contact Jodi. You can fill in the form below and we will contact you back. 

Jodi is accredited by AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) the leading UK charity championing patient safety and justice and by the Law Society for clinical negligence. This means that Jodi is recognised for her expertise in running clinical negligence claims, exclusively representing claimants, and for providing the gold standard in client care.