Estimates of the number of patients with blood clots occurring annually in the U.S go as high as 600,000, with the estimated number of annual deaths as high as 300,000. The National Center for Health Statistics data indicate that blood clots would be ranked as either the third, fifth, or eighth leading cause of death by disease.
Blood clot disorders such as deep vein thrombophlebitis or thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) rank among the top health concerns in the country. Experts agree that the failure to diagnose and treat these conditions is not uncommon, and can lead to serious injury and death. It also can lead to litigation and potential liability for medical malpractice.
Attorneys, physicians, hospitals, insurers, and others who may be involved in litigation involving blood clot injury need to understand the liability issues and medical aspects to handle these cases properly.