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Can You Sue for a Doctor’s Failure to Treat Blood Clots?
Posted on behalf of Peter T. Nicholl in Medical Malpractice Published on July 25, 2024 and updated on April 15, 2026.
When doctors misdiagnose and fail to promptly treat blood clots, patients could suffer fatal injuries. Victims or their loved ones may be able to file a blood clot lawsuit to secure compensation for additional medical care, pain and suffering or wrongful death damages if their loved one passed away from untreated clots.
In this blog, The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl discusses the types of blood clots, the dangers of this condition, how doctors can diagnose clots and why this condition may go undiagnosed.
On This Page
- What Is a Blood Clot?
- What Are the Symptoms of a Blood Clot?
- What Are the Dangers of Blood Clots?
- What Are the Types of Blood Clots?
- How Do Doctors Diagnose Blood Clots?
- Why Are Blood Clots Misdiagnosed?
- When Can You File a Blood Clot Lawsuit Over Misdiagnosis?
- Blood Clot Misdiagnosis and Failure-to-Treat FAQs
- Visit Our Baltimore Office
- Consult an Experienced Lawyer About Your Untreated Blood Clot Injuries
Can I sue if a doctor failed to diagnose or treat a blood clot in time?
Yes. You can file a medical malpractice claim if a doctor failed to diagnose or treat a blood clot when a reasonably competent provider would have. Liability depends on proving a breach of the standard of care and that the delay directly caused serious harm such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, or death.
We understand the severity injuries can have on your life. For over three decades, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers have advocated for medical malpractice victims, recovering millions on behalf or our clients.
If you or a loved one were injured by untreated blood clots in Maryland, you may be eligible for compensation. Our experienced legal team does not charge upfront fees and offers a free initial consultation.
Schedule your FREE no-obligation consultation with us. Call 410-297-0271.
What Is a Blood Clot?
A blood clot is a gel-like mass of blood that forms when platelets and fibrin proteins coagulate. Clotting is a normal biological process meant to stop bleeding from injuries.
However, the body sometimes forms clots inside blood vessels. If these clots do not dissolve on their own, they can block blood flow, possibly causing strokes or heart attacks. These abnormal clots can be caused by prolonged immobility, medical conditions or genetic factors.
What Are the Symptoms of a Blood Clot?
Blood clot symptoms can vary depending on the site of the clot. Common symptoms may include:
- Fainting
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Sudden, severe headache
- Pain or tenderness in the affected area
- Swelling, often in one arm or leg
- Skin that feels warm to the touch
- Redness or discoloration of the skin
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- Sudden cough, sometimes with bloody mucus
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Vision problems in one or both eyes
- Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need immediate medical attention to prevent severe, possibly life-threatening complications.
What Are the Dangers of Blood Clots?
Untreated blood clots can cause life-threatening medical issues, including:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Blocking pulmonary arteries when the clot travels to the lungs
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Damage to internal organs, include organ failure
- Limb ischemia, which can destroy tissues
What Are the Types of Blood Clots?
There are two main categories of blood clots:
- Arterial Clots: These form in arteries and can cause heart attacks or strokes.
- Venous Clots: These clots are in the veins. The two main types include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT typically forms in the legs, while PE occurs when a clot travels to the lungs. DVT typically causes swelling, warmth and tenderness in the affected area. PE usually comes with sharp pain in the chest, shortness of breath and elevated heart rate. Superficial thrombophlebitis is a less severe type affecting surface veins. Embolisms are clots that break free and travel through the bloodstream, potentially lodging in vital organs.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Blood Clots?
When a patient presents symptoms of a blood clot, doctors have a few methods for making an accurate diagnosis.
- Physical exam and review of the patient’s medical record to discover risk factors, such as prior illnesses, recent surgeries or medical treatments that could explain a blood clot
- Ultrasound to diagnose DVT – the machine uses sound waves to visualize blood flow and discover clots
- D-dimer blood tests measure the substance released when a clot breaks up.
- Compression ultrasonography visualizes leg veins and can detect DVT.
- CT pulmonary angiography generates detailed images of the lung arteries.
- CT or MRI scans can detect clots in the brain blood vessels or deep veins.
- A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan helps diagnose blood clots in deep veins by comparing air distribution and blood flow patterns.
- Electrocardiograms and cardiac enzyme tests could detect arterial clots that increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
- Venography or arteriography can be used to detect complex clots. Doctors inject contrast and take X-rays of the area to visualize blood vessels.
Doctors are responsible for understanding and accurately interpreting test results to identify blood clots and beginning appropriate treatment.
Why Are Blood Clots Misdiagnosed?
Typically, blood clots are left untreated because the patient’s doctor failed to diagnose them, which happens for a variety of reasons:
Doctors Think Another Condition Explains Your Symptoms
Healthcare providers could misinterpret the signs of a blood clot for other conditions. For instance, symptoms such as swelling, pain, redness, muscle injuries or varicose veins could be misinterpreted for muscle strains or an infection.
Failure to Obtain a Complete and Accurate Medical History
Your symptoms combined with your medical history may point to blood clots. However, doctors need to obtain a complete and accurate medical history.
Sometimes doctors cannot obtain all your medical records, or the patient does not have much of a record because he or she does not have regular access to healthcare. That is why doctors need to know what questions to ask to identify risk factors for blood clots. For example, doctors may discover previous clotting events or a genetic predisposition to clots.
Insufficient Diagnostic Testing
Doctors may miss a clot if they do not perform the appropriate tests. Sometimes it may take more than one test to find a clot.
When doctors choose not to use specific tests like Doppler ultrasounds or D-dimer assessments, they may overlook conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism in their early, more treatable stages.
Failure to Consult Specialists
General practitioners may not always have the necessary expertise to detect blood clots. If a generalist does not refer a patient with potential clotting symptoms to a hematologist or other specialist, a patient could go a long time without getting a diagnosis.
Time Constraints and Workload
Healthcare providers are often under significant pressure to treat a lot of patients, which can contribute to diagnostic errors. Rushed consultations can cause doctors to miss details or symptoms, making it harder to diagnose blood clots.
Misinterpretation of Diagnostic Results
Misreading or misunderstanding test results can result in an incorrect diagnosis.
When Can You File a Blood Clot Lawsuit Over Misdiagnosis?
If you were injured by a blood clot that doctors failed to diagnose, you may have a medical malpractice case. You would need to show your doctor failed to uphold the standard of care for the situation. In other words, the doctor needed to perform as other similarly situated medical professionals would have.
For instance, if you have proof that a doctor failed to order necessary tests when you showed symptoms of DVT, it could suggest the doctor did not meet the standard of care.
Proving blood clot misdiagnosis is a challenge, which is why you need an experienced law firm to build your case. We have the depth of knowledge to determine if you may have a case and the resources to obtain the information we need, including medical records and the history of the doctors who treated you.
We also have access to the right medical experts to determine what doctors should have done, how they deviated from the standard of care, and why this caused your injuries or worsening medical condition.
FAQs About Blood Clot Misdiagnosis and Failure to Treat
Can a misdiagnosed blood clot be considered medical malpractice in Maryland?
Yes, a misdiagnosed blood clot can be considered medical malpractice if a provider failed to recognize symptoms or order appropriate testing. Legally, this may constitute a breach of the standard of care when the delay leads to serious harm such as pulmonary embolism or stroke. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can evaluate whether the missed diagnosis directly caused injury.
What are common medical errors that lead to blood clot misdiagnosis?
Blood clot misdiagnosis often involves failure to recognize warning signs, misinterpreting imaging, or not ordering diagnostic tests like ultrasounds or CT scans. These errors may amount to negligence if a reasonably competent provider would have taken different action. Establishing what should have been done is central to proving liability.
How do I know if my blood clot diagnosis was delayed due to negligence?
A delayed diagnosis may be due to negligence if symptoms were ignored or improperly evaluated despite clear risk factors. The legal question is whether the provider failed to act within accepted medical standards and whether earlier detection would have prevented harm. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can assess timelines and medical decisions to determine if negligence occurred.
What complications can result from a missed or delayed blood clot diagnosis?
Missed blood clots can lead to life-threatening complications such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, or permanent organ damage. From a legal standpoint, these outcomes may establish causation if timely diagnosis and treatment would have prevented the injury. The severity of these complications often plays a significant role in determining damages.
What compensation is available in a blood clot misdiagnosis lawsuit?
Compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care costs. Because blood clot complications can be severe or fatal, damages may also account for diminished quality of life or wrongful death. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl evaluates both immediate and long-term impacts when pursuing a claim.
What evidence is needed to prove a blood clot misdiagnosis claim?
Proving a claim typically requires medical records, diagnostic results, expert testimony, and a clear timeline of care. Legally, this evidence must show that the provider breached the standard of care and that the delay or error directly caused the injury. Detailed documentation is critical to establishing both liability and damages.
Can I file a claim if the blood clot was eventually diagnosed?
Yes, you may still have a claim if the diagnosis was delayed and caused harm. The legal focus is whether earlier detection would have changed the outcome or prevented complications. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can determine whether the delay in diagnosis materially worsened your condition.
How long do I have to file a blood clot misdiagnosis lawsuit in Maryland?
Maryland law imposes strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice claims, known as statutes of limitations. Failing to act within these time limits can prevent you from pursuing compensation, regardless of the merits of the case. Acting promptly allows for preservation of evidence and proper evaluation of the claim.
Visit Our Baltimore Office
Consult an Experienced Lawyer About Your Untreated Blood Clot Injuries
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to untreated blood clots, you can reach out to our firm to determine your possible legal options. At The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, our lawyers have a proven track record in Maryland medical malpractice cases.
We guide our clients through a challenging time in their lives, advocating for full compensation for economic and non-economic damages. There are no upfront fees with our services, so there is no financial risk to you.
Call us today for legal assistance: 410-297-0271.
