FAILURE TO DETECT DVT NEGLIGENT

A patient had to be admitted to Intensive Care after a GP failed to spot that she had deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

She had visited her GP complaining of leg pains and mentioned the possibility of DVT but was simply sent home with a bandage and painkillers.

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in one of your deep veins, usually your leg. 

Many blood clots that cause DVT are small and don’t produce any symptoms. Your body will usually be able to gradually break them down with no long term affects.

Larger clots can partly or completely block the blood flow in your vein and cause symptoms such as swelling of the affected leg, pain and tenderness in the affected leg, a change in the colour of your skin or your skin feels warm to the touch.

If the DVT goes undiagnosed the most serious complication could be a pulmonary embolism which happens when a piece of the blood clot from the DVT breaks off and travels through your bloodstream to yours lungs, where it blocks one of the blood vessels in your lungs.  This is serious and in severe cases, can be fatal.

If detected, there are many forms of treatment for DVT including blood thinning medicines which stop clots from forming so easily. 

In the reported case, the GP admitted liability for the accident and paid an undisclosed five figure sum in compensation.  Walsall NHS Trust has since said that it has reviewed its procedures and the GP “has also undertaken personal study into the diagnosis of DVT in order to prevent such an incident happening again”.

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors specialise in obtaining compensation for client’s who have sustained injury as a result of Clinical Negligence. We have many years of experience dealing with claims against hospitals (both NHS and Private), dentists and general practitioners. Examples include claims arising as a result of negligently performed operations, misdiagnosis of cancer, injuries arising as a result of negligently performed cosmetic surgery and injuries sustained at birth.

We have offices in Liverpool City Centre and Allerton.If you would like to enquire about a potential Clinical Negligence claim, contact a member of our Team on 0151 733 3353. Calls can be taken 24 hours a day or e-mail us at [email protected]