Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) negligence claims
- Information about DVT claims
- How much can I claim?
- What can I claim compensation for?
- Making a claim for compensation
It is estimated that more than 10,000 patients have died from DVT as a direct result of hospitals neglecting to follow correct practice.
A deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a blood 
clot that forms in the deep vein, usually of one leg but sometimes in other parts of the body can be affected.
In some cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) there may be no symptoms, but possible symptoms can include:
- pain, swelling and tenderness in one of thelegs (usually the calf)
- a heavy ache in the affected area
- warm skin in the area of the clot
- redness of the skin, particularly at the back of the leg below the knee
Causes of Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Some older people are at high risk of DVT (particularly if they have poor mobility or have a serious illness such as cancer)
- Pregnancy
- Immobility (caused by a surgical operation that lasts more than 30 minutes, long journeys by plane or train, illness or injury)
- The contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- People with cancer or heart failure
- Obesity
- Being male. Men tend to develop a DVT more often than women.
- Damage to the inside lining of the vein (caused by a previous instance of DVT, vasculitis – inflammation of the vein wall, or by use of certain drugs –i.e. chemotherapy drugs)
Diagnosing Deep Vein Thrombosis
The symptoms of DVT can make it difficult to diagnose the condition. Sometimes it is difficult for a doctor to be sure of the diagnosis from just the symptoms, as there are other causes of a painful and swollen calf. However, there are tests which can help to diagnose DVT where it is suspected, there include;
- D-dimer blood test. This detects fragments of breakdown products of a blood clot. The higher the level, the more likely you have a blood clot in a vein.
- An ultrasound scan of the leg, which can often detect a clot in a vein. A special type of ultrasound called a Doppler ultrasound may be used. This can look at blood flow through a vein can show up any blockages.
The failure to identify a relatively small DVT can represent medical negligence and condemn the patient long term suffering and disability for a condition that could have been treated completely successfully.
If you have suffered as a result of late diagnosis or misdiagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
How much can I claim?
A number of factors will determine the value of your settlement:
- The type of injury and how severe the injury is
- Did you recover fully from the injury or do you have ongoing problems
- What are the long term effects on your health
- Did the injury cause you other losses such as loss of earnings
What can I claim compensation for?
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earnings
- The loss of comfort/convenience/quality of life caused by your injury
- Medical care costs
- Costs involved in adapting your home to meet your new requirements as a result of your injury
- Other out of pocket expenses incurred whilst receiving medical treatment, such as travel expenses
Making a claim for compensation
A specialist medical negligence solicitor can assess your case and inform you about:
- How strong your case is
- The likelyhood of making a successful claim
- The amount of compensation you may receive if your claim is successful
- Pursue a claim on your behalf