When Failing to Give Blood Thinner Constitutes Medical Malpractice
Blood thinning medications, also known as anticoagulants or blood thinners, can be an essential tool for preventing blood clots and other life-threatening conditions. Doctors must thoroughly examine and identify patients who are at risk for forming blood clots and prescribe blood thinners when necessary. In fact, failure to provide blood thinners can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit if the patient suffers harm or even death as a result of a blood clot.
Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an extremely important bodily function. For instance, if you suffer a cut, proteins and platelets travel to the area where you have been injured to form a mass of tissue, known as a blood clot. However, problems arise when your blood clots inside your body, as opposed to on the surface of the skin. When a person begins forming clots inside their blood vessels, this puts them at risk for dangerous blood clots that can develop in, or travel to, the heart or brain, leading to a heart attack or stroke, or to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.
What do Blood Thinners Do?
The function of blood thinning medicine is to quite literally “thin the blood” and make it less likely to form clots. Blood thinners can also be used to disperse an existing blood clot. In some situations, physicians will prescribe blood thinners during a specific period of time to prevent a blood clot from developing. For instance, if you have just undergone surgery or you are on bed rest, you may need anticoagulants until your condition improves. On the other hand, some patients may need to take blood thinners for the rest of their lives because they are more susceptible to hypercoagulation.
Blood Clot Causes and Conditions
The tendency to develop blood clots, also known as excessive blood clotting or hypercoagulation, can be caused by a host of common medical conditions, including:
- Atrial Fibrilation
- Diabetes
- Heart Failure
- Atherosclerosis
- Vasculitis
- Being overweight or obese
- Metabolic syndrome
- Cancer
There are also certain activities or life-changes that can cause hypercoagulation, some of which include:
- Prolonged periods of sitting on an airplane or in a car
- Bed rest and long periods of hospitalization
- Pregnancy
- Surgery
- Smoking
- Birth control pills
Common Blood Thinning Medications
If a person is at risk for developing blood clots or they already have a blood clot, there are certain blood thinning medications that are frequently used to treat these conditions. Some of the most common blood thinners include Coumadin, Xarelto, Plavix, and Pradaxa. These are brand-name medications for generic drugs like Heparin and Warfarin. Unfortunately, medical professionals can fail to diagnose and treat blood clots, as well as failing to provide blood thinners before or after surgery, and this negligence can lead to injury or wrongful death.
Notably, blood clot drugs also come with serious risks. In fact, administering too much blood thinning medication can put a patient at risk for excessive bleeding and even death. Warfarin has also been associated with birth defects when taken by pregnant women. With so much complexity surrounding blood thinners, it is absolutely imperative for doctors to administer these drugs when necessary and in appropriate amounts. Failure to do so may constitute medical malpractice.
Contact Our New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers
At Fronzuto Law Group, our medical malpractice lawyers pursue compensation for both the economic and non-economic damages associated with medical negligence. We understand the physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by errors and misjudgments in medicine and we walk alongside you and your family while aggressively pursuing the justice you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice by a doctor or negligence by a hospital, nurse, or other medical professional, it is essential to understand all of your legal options. Contact our attorneys today at 973.435.4551 for a free consultation about your specific case and find out if you may have grounds for a lawsuit. We charge no fees until we obtain you a recovery.
You can also access the following link for more information about Blood Thinners.
