Pulmonary Embolism Compensation for Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis
Pulmonary embolism compensation comes into play when a serious condition is missed or treatment comes too late. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, often starting in the leg, travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow. When doctors catch it early, treatment can be effective. When they do not, the situation can escalate fast.
One of the hardest parts about pulmonary embolism is how frequently it goes undetected. It remains a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths. Symptoms are often dismissed as anxiety, muscle pain, or shortness of breath that does not raise immediate concern. In many cases, testing could have revealed the problem, but it was postponed or never ordered. Families are left trying to understand how someone could be dying of pulmonary embolism while under medical care without anyone connecting the dots.
At EOL.Law, we speak with families after a loved one has died from pulmonary embolism or survived with lasting complications. These cases often involve missed warning signs or delays that should not have occurred. When that lapse in care leads to harm, blood clot lawsuit settlements may be available to help address the financial and personal losses left behind.
Pulmonary Embolism by the Numbers
Pulmonary embolism shows up in hospitals and emergency rooms every day. Even so, it is still one of the conditions most likely to be missed or diagnosed too late. Looking at the numbers helps explain why this remains such a serious problem in the U.S.
- Up to 900,000 people develop a pulmonary embolism or related blood clot each year
- 60,000 to 100,000 deaths are linked to pulmonary embolism annually
- About 10% of in-hospital deaths involve a pulmonary embolism
- Many patients decline within hours of their first symptoms
Given how often doctors encounter this condition, it should be caught more consistently. Yet it often is not.
Misdiagnosis continues to play a major role:
- Pulmonary embolism is missed in roughly one out of three emergency room cases
- In inpatient settings, delayed or missed diagnoses happen even more frequently
- Symptoms are commonly written off as anxiety, muscle pain, or routine breathing trouble
- Testing that could confirm the problem is delayed or never ordered at all
Because of these breakdowns, pulmonary embolism remains one of the most commonly missed life-threatening conditions in healthcare. Diagnostic errors cause serious harm every year, and pulmonary embolism stays near the top of the list because the warning signs are there, but they are not always acted on. Many blood clot lawsuit settlements stem from these exact failures.
What Is Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism happens when a blood clot gets stuck in one of the arteries in the lungs. That blockage slows or cuts off blood flow, which means the body cannot get the oxygen it needs. When that happens, the lungs and heart are forced to work harder, and serious damage can follow very quickly.
In most cases, the clot does not start in the lungs. It usually forms in the deep veins of the leg, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. If that clot breaks loose, it can travel through the bloodstream and lodge in the lungs without warning.
Pulmonary embolism is treated as a medical emergency for a reason:
- It can limit oxygen levels in the blood
- It can strain the heart and lead to heart failure
- Lung tissue can be permanently damaged
- Large clots, or multiple clots, can be fatal in minutes or hours
When pulmonary embolism is recognized early, treatment can stop the clot and prevent further harm. When it is missed or diagnosis is delayed, the outcome can change fast, sometimes before a patient or family realizes what is happening.
Who's Most at Risk for a Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism can happen to anyone. But if you’re in a hospital or recovering from a procedure, the chances aren’t just random. There are clear, well-known risk factors that doctors and nurses are trained to watch for.
Medical teams have a responsibility to assess your personal risk and take simple, proven steps to protect you. When that doesn’t happen, the results can be tragic. We’ve seen too many cases where a known risk was ignored, leading directly to a family dying of pulmonary embolism.
So who tends to face a higher risk? Blood clots are more likely when someone:
- Has a personal or family history of blood clots
- Is immobile for long periods, such as during a hospital stay, after surgery, or on a long flight
- Recently had surgery, especially involving the hip, knee, or pelvis
- Is pregnant or has recently given birth
- Uses estrogen-based birth control or hormone therapy
- Is undergoing cancer treatment
- Lives with conditions like heart disease, obesity, or COPD
- Smokes
Having these risks doesn’t guarantee a clot will form. But it should guarantee a higher level of attention from your care team. Preventative measures like blood thinners, compression devices, and early movement are standard for a reason.
When hospitals fail to act on these known risks, they fail their patients. This negligence is what turns a preventable condition into a life-threatening emergency and, far too often, forms the basis for blood clot lawsuit settlements. If you had known risk factors that were overlooked, what happened to you wasn’t just bad luck. It may have been a preventable failure in care.
Warning Signs of a Pulmonary Embolism Doctors Often Overlook
The biggest danger with a pulmonary embolism isn’t always the clot itself. It’s how easy the symptoms are to explain away.
For a doctor or nurse in a busy hospital, a patient’s shortness of breath can get brushed off as post-surgical pain making it hard to take a deep breath. A racing heart might be logged as anxiety. That nagging cough? Probably just a cold. This is how a life-threatening condition gets missed, not because the signs weren’t there, but because they were mistaken for something less critical.
We see it all the time in the cases we handle. The symptoms that should have sounded an alarm but were instead minimized include:
- A sense of dread or “impending doom” that feels different from normal worry.
- Unexplained exhaustion or weakness that doesn’t match your recovery stage.
- A low-grade fever that seems out of place.
- Mild, persistent chest discomfort, not necessarily a sharp pain.
- Confusion or mental fogginess, especially in older patients.
- A dry, tickling cough that just won’t quit.
- Subtle swelling or tenderness in just one calf.
The harsh reality is that by the time the classic, unmistakable signs appear, like coughing up blood or a bluish tint to the lips, the situation is often critical. The window for safe, effective treatment has nearly closed.
When medical professionals dismiss these subtle warnings, they are failing in their fundamental duty to protect you.
How Is Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosed?
Pulmonary embolism can be hard to spot, and doctors usually rely on a combination of your symptoms, medical history, and risk factors to decide which tests to use. Getting the right test quickly can make a critical difference in preventing serious complications.
- D-dimer blood test that checks for substances released when a blood clot breaks down, which can indicate the presence of a clot
- Ultrasound of the legs to examine blood flow and detect deep vein clots that could travel to the lungs
- CT pulmonary angiography to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the lungs and identify blockages
- MRI to reveal areas in the lungs where blood flow is slowed, reduced, or blocked, helping to locate clots
- Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan to measure both airflow and blood flow in the lungs, especially when a CT scan isn’t possible
- Echocardiogram to check whether the heart is under stress from a clot in the lungs
Medical providers are expected to use these tests when someone shows signs of pulmonary embolism. Delays or missed testing can be dangerous and, in some cases, deadly. Prompt evaluation and the right diagnostic approach are essential to prevent serious complications.
Pulmonary Embolism Treatments
Treating a pulmonary embolism is all about stopping the clot from getting worse, helping the body break it down, and preventing new clots from forming. How it’s treated depends on how serious the clot is and the patient’s overall health.
Treatments of pulmonary embolism include:
- Blood thinners to keep the clot from growing and lower the chance of new clots forming
- Clot-busting medications for severe cases that work quickly to dissolve dangerous clots
- Compression devices and lifestyle steps like special socks, moving around after surgery or long trips, and managing other health risks to prevent future clots
- Surgical or catheter-based removal in rare situations, where doctors physically remove a clot from the lungs
- Filters in the main vein for patients who cannot take blood thinners, which catch clots before they reach the lungs
Timing matters more than anything. Pulmonary embolisms can get worse fast, and the sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome. When it’s missed or delayed, the results can be devastating for patients and their families. Mistakes like these should never be ignored. In cases of pulmonary embolism, acting quickly is the most important step.
Standard of Care for Pulmonary Embolism
So, what are doctors expected to do when someone shows signs of a pulmonary embolism? The standard of care means they should recognize the possibility, run the right tests, and start treatment quickly. Missing these steps can be deadly, and unfortunately, it’s often what leads to malpractice claims.
Here’s what good care looks like in real terms:
- Recognize early that a pulmonary embolism might be causing the patient’s symptoms
- Order the right diagnostic tests, which can include a chest CT scan, a V/Q scan, or an ultrasound of the legs
- Start anticoagulation or other treatment as soon as it’s safe to do so
- Monitor the patient closely, often in a telemetry or hospital setting, to catch changes quickly
The most important thing is acting fast. Pulmonary embolism can get worse in hours, and delays in testing or treatment can be life-threatening.
Misdiagnosis of a Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolisms can be missed because the symptoms are vague and can look like less serious problems. The sad reality is that many people who die from a pulmonary embolism never get treated for it. Too many patients with shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or other warning signs are told it’s anxiety, a panic attack, or something minor.
The problem usually comes down to this: doctors sometimes stop looking too soon. They fail to rule out the most serious possibility and focus on a less severe explanation. Proper testing and careful observation take time, and in busy hospitals or emergency rooms, that time isn’t always taken.
In Pennsylvania hospitals and ERs, this misdiagnosis usually comes down to a few critical oversights:
- Not asking the right questions. Failing to learn about recent surgery, long periods of immobility, or a family history of clots.
- Not doing a thorough exam. Missing signs like swelling in one leg or an unusually fast heart rate.
- Not ordering the right tests. Skipping the simple D-dimer blood test or delaying the crucial CT scan that can spot the clot.
- Not calling for help. Failing to consult a specialist when the warning signs are clearly there.
- Being too rushed. Overwhelmed staff in a busy ER can miss the subtleties that point to a pulmonary embolism.
A misdiagnosis is a lost window of time when treatment could have saved a life. If you feel your symptoms were dismissed or the investigation stopped too soon, you’re right to question what happened. That failure to look deeper is where preventable harm begins.
What to Do After a Suspected Pulmonary Embolism Misdiagnosis
If you or a loved one suffered harm because a pulmonary embolism was missed or diagnosed late, acting promptly is critical. Pennsylvania law gives you two years to file a claim, so taking early steps is essential to protecting your rights and your ability to seek pulmonary embolism compensation.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Seek a thorough second medical opinion. If symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or leg swelling persist, see a different doctor or go to another hospital. Bring all prior records and clearly state any risk factors. Ask specifically for definitive tests, like a CT pulmonary angiogram or a D-dimer blood test. A proper diagnosis now can also document any lasting complications, such as heart strain from the delayed treatment.
- Consult with a medical malpractice attorney. A lawyer at EOL.Law can review your records to determine if negligence occurred. Many families in Pennsylvania resolve their claims through blood clot lawsuit settlements without needing a trial.
- Carefully gather and preserve all evidence. Keep every medical chart, test result, timeline, and note from doctors or hospital staff. Witness statements or documentation of lapses in care can show how a misdiagnosis contributed to serious harm. This is especially important in cases where someone died from pulmonary embolism or survived but continues to suffer complications from delayed treatment.
These steps could increase your chances of securing pulmonary embolism compensation if misdiagnosis or negligence played a role.
Legal Claims in Pulmonary Embolism Misdiagnosis Cases
If a pulmonary embolism was missed or diagnosed too late, there are ways the law can help, especially if the delay caused serious harm or death.
- Medical Malpractice
This is the main claim. It means a doctor didn’t follow the care they should have, like skipping important tests even when the signs were there. To make a claim, you need to show the doctor had a responsibility to you, they failed in that duty, and it caused you harm. A medical expert also needs to back up your claim within 60 days of filing.
- Wrongful Death
If someone you love died from pulmonary embolism, a wrongful death claim can help cover things like lost income, funeral costs, and the loss of their company. Families often combine this with a survival action, which looks at the suffering the person went through before passing.
- Survival Action
A survival action lets the estate recover things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain or discomfort the person had before death. This usually happens alongside a malpractice claim.
- Hospital Responsibility
Hospitals can also be responsible if mistakes happened because of an employee or if bigger issues, like poor staffing or training, caused the misdiagnosis.
Pulmonary Embolism Compensation
Patients and their families may be able to seek compensation if a pulmonary embolism was caused or worsened by medical negligence. This can include:
- Medical bills for past treatment and any future care you might need.
- Lost wages if the injury keeps you from working or affects your ability to earn.
- Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional stress caused by the misdiagnosis.
- Wrongful death losses if a loved one died from a pulmonary embolism, family members can seek compensation for things like lost financial support, funeral costs, and the loss of companionship.
- Survival action damages for what the victim went through before death, including medical bills, lost income, and any conscious pain or suffering.
Seek Compensation for Loved Ones Who Were Affected or Died from Pulmonary Embolism
If a doctor missed or delayed a pulmonary embolism diagnosis and you or a loved one were hurt or died from pulmonary embolism, you may be able to get pulmonary embolism compensation.
At EOL.Law, we review the facts of your case, work with medical experts, and pursue blood clot lawsuit settlements when a doctor or hospital failed to provide proper care. Whether you are dealing with the risk of dying of pulmonary embolism yourself or coping with the death of someone close, we can help explain your options. You can schedule a free consultation today and decide what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sue for pulmonary embolism?
Yes, you can sue if a pulmonary embolism happened because a doctor or hospital didn’t do their job. This usually comes up when someone is misdiagnosed or treatment is delayed after surgery or other risks. To succeed, you have to show the provider had a duty to care for you, broke that duty, and it directly caused your injury or bills. In Pennsylvania, cases often involve missed warning signs or tests that should have been done.
Does a pulmonary embolism qualify for disability?
Yes, a pulmonary embolism can qualify for disability if it keeps you from working for a long time. Social Security looks for ongoing problems, like fatigue, shortness of breath, or repeated clots. Even if your situation isn’t an exact match in their rules, doctors can explain how it affects your ability to do regular work. If the clot happened on the job in Pennsylvania, workers’ comp might help too.
What is the 60 60 rule for pulmonary embolism?
The 60/60 rule is something doctors see on a heart ultrasound that hints at a serious blood clot in the lungs. It shows the right side of your heart is under stress and the tricuspid valve is pumping blood very fast. It’s not the final diagnosis, but it’s a red flag that the clot could be dangerous. If a doctor misses it when someone has symptoms, that could be grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
How much compensation for a blood clot?
How much you could get depends on how bad the clot was and who caused it, and in Pennsylvania it can be anywhere from a few hundred thousand to millions. Some past cases include $450,000 settlements and jury awards over $4 million when doctors missed warning signs. Compensation usually covers medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and even wrongful death if someone dies. Strong cases are ones where it’s clear the clot could have been prevented or treated sooner.
