Pulmonary embolisms are medical emergencies that require immediate diagnosis and treatment. An untreated blood clot can take oxygen away from the lungs and heart and leave a patient in critical condition. If this describes your situation, you may have been the victim of a medical misdiagnosis.
The Las Cruces misdiagnosis lawyers at Coates & Johnson, PLLC can help you understand your rights under New Mexico law and seek full compensation for your medical care and other losses. Call us today to schedule a free case review.
Why Choose Coates & Johnson, PLLC to Handle Your Pulmonary Embolism Case?
Pulmonary embolism cases are complex malpractice cases that scrutinize the smallest details of treatment and diagnostic decisions. Representation from attorneys who focus only on malpractice is often the kind you want in these complicated claims.
Clients in Las Cruces, New Mexico, choose Coates & Johnson, PLLC because:
- Our attorneys focus exclusively on healthcare negligence cases — and that’s it.
- One of our lawyers brings medical training and extensive trial experience to every case we handle.
- We work closely with highly qualified physicians and specialists to strengthen the cases we take on.
- Clients work directly with experienced attorneys and partners throughout the case rather than being handed off to non-attorney staff.
- We get top results at trial and the negotiating table.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your case from a Las Cruces medical malpractice attorney.
What is a Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow. Pulmonary embolisms are commonly associated with deep vein thrombosis, where blood clots form in the legs before traveling to the lungs.
Without prompt treatment, the condition may become fatal because it restricts the travel of blood and oxygen to the lungs and heart. Without these, a patient’s vital organs simply shut down.
Pulmonary embolisms are difficult to diagnose without adequate testing because the symptoms (sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, etc.) can be mistaken for many other conditions. Pulmonary issues are misdiagnosed in many cases and are one of the top five organ systems associated with diseases related to diagnostic errors.
Why An Attorney Is a Must-Have in Medical Malpractice Disputes
Pulmonary embolism malpractice claims often involve the most technical of questions, including:
- Whether physicians recognized warning signs
- Whether proper testing was ordered
- Whether treatment delays affected a patient’s health outcomes
- Whether symptoms were improperly dismissed
Answers to these questions require exhaustive investigation and an extensive review of medical records, often with the assistance of experienced medical specialists.
An attorney can help you have a successful claim by:
- Carefully reconstructing the timeline of symptoms, testing, and medical treatment
- Working with pulmonary and emergency specialists
- Analyzing whether physicians made reasonable diagnostic and treatment decisions
- Assessing future medical needs and the long-term financial consequences involved
- Handling negotiations and disputes with hospitals and medical liability insurers
- Preparing the claim for litigation and trial proceedings when necessary
Without legal assistance, your claim will likely get lost in the weeds of complicated court procedures or be aggressively challenged by insurers and healthcare defendants.
Symptoms That Should Have Triggered Further Testing
Pulmonary embolisms can present numerous symptoms, not just leg swelling. Common symptoms include:
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Coughing
- Leg swelling
- Dizziness or fainting
These symptoms should typically trigger additional testing to determine whether a patient is suffering from pulmonary issues.
Doctors may use a range of tests to help diagnose such conditions (CT scans, blood testing, ultrasounds, etc.). But symptoms must be diagnosed properly and tests ordered promptly to provide life-saving treatment.
Proving a Pulmonary Embolism Misdiagnosis Case Under New Mexico Law
Pulmonary embolisms are medical emergencies that require prompt diagnosis and treatment. When emergency room providers fail to recognize the signs of a pulmonary embolism and a patient suffers harm, a medical malpractice claim may be possible.
Under New Mexico law, an injured patient generally must prove the following elements:
- Standard of Care: The patient must show what a reasonably competent healthcare provider would have done under similar circumstances, including whether additional testing or evaluation for a pulmonary embolism was warranted.
- Breach: The provider failed to meet the applicable standard of care, such as by ignoring symptoms, failing to order appropriate diagnostic tests, misreading results, or discharging the patient too soon.
- Causation: The patient must demonstrate that the missed or delayed diagnosis caused additional harm that likely could have been avoided with timely treatment.
- Damages: The patient must prove losses resulting from the misdiagnosis, such as additional medical expenses, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, or wrongful death damages.
You must also file your claim within three years of the date of malpractice or risk having your case thrown out of court.
Contact an Experienced Pulmonary Embolism Misdiagnosis Lawyer for Help
Pulmonary embolism misdiagnosis cases often involve catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Neither is acceptable; both deserve accountability and justice.
The Las Cruces medical malpractice attorneys at Coates & Johnson, PLLC can evaluate your claim and determine whether you have the right to compensation. Call us today for a free consultation.