Jackie Linehan, clinical negligence legal director, recently secured £500,000 in compensation for the family of a man who tragically died of an undetected deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Bill* was in his early 50s. He was a former army soldier. At home he was very practical, doing lots of gardening, baking and DIY. He was in generally good health and had an active lifestyle alongside his wife and dog.
Over the summer of 2023, Bill started noticing pain, swelling and redness in his lower leg. He was concerned that he was having a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
What is deep vein thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein, usually one of the deep veins in the leg. It is a dangerous condition because the clot can cut off blood flow, or travel to the lungs and stop the body getting enough oxygen. This is known as a pulmonary embolism and it is a life-threatening emergency.
There are different tests that can confirm whether a patient has a dangerous blood clot. These are straightforward to perform. Once a clot has been found, with timely treatment using blood thinning or clot-busting medication, a serious pulmonary embolism and even death can be prevented.
The missed diagnosis of DVT
In June 2023, Bill went to his GP twice to have his leg checked. He explained his symptoms to his doctor. Bill was reassured that he was not having deep vein thrombosis. However, Bill’s GP did not actually perform any investigations to confirm this. Nor did they refer Bill to a specialist who would be able to perform the necessary tests to diagnose or exclude a deep vein thrombosis.
In late July 2023, Bill was out walking his dog when he suddenly became breathless. He saw on his Fitbit watch that his heart rate was high, at 130bpm. He had been walking along a flat path around his local park, which would not normally cause this reaction.
He and his wife contacted his GP immediately. Bill saw his doctor the next day and told them about what had happened in the park, and about his leg pain. Again, no investigations were requested.
In September 2023, Bill collapsed at home and tragically passed away. His cause of death was found to be deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
How did Enable Law help?
Bill’s wife, Judith*, came to Enable Law for help finding out whether her husband’s death could have been avoided. If it was, she wanted to ensure that lessons were learnt, and that the GP would not make the same mistake with another patient in the future.
Jackie Linehan and the Enable Law team investigated the case. With the help of specialist medical experts, Enable Law found out that Bill’s GP should have considered deep vein thrombosis and referred him to hospital for urgent tests in summer 2023. Had this happened, Bill’s blood clot would have been confirmed. He would have been prescribed blood thinning medication, which would have prevented his early death in September 2023.
We supported Judith throughout the legal process and with our assistance, Judith successfully claimed compensation to recognise Bill’s loss, and lessen the financial impact left behind.
While a formal admission of liability was never received from the defendant GP, we were still able to settle the claim (out of court) for a significant sum of money.
No amount of money could ever make up for Bill’s death. However, claiming compensation gave Bill’s widow financial security for the future. The compensation would also allow her to employ someone to do the practical jobs at home that Bill would have done.
Alex Renton, Trainee Solicitor, who supported Jackie Linehan on the claim said that she was pleased to learn from the GP’s solicitor that “Even though the GP denied negligence in Bill’s case, the claim will undoubtedly have influenced their practice for the rest of their career. Because Bill’s family made a claim, the GP’s next patient with a possible deep vein thrombosis could be referred for treatment that ends up saving their life.”
How we can help you
At Enable Law we have a specialist clinical negligence team supporting patients and their loved ones to investigate and bring claims related to concerns they have about a delayed or missed diagnosis and treatment. In the unfortunate event that medical professionals let you down, seeking compensation can help you recover physically, emotionally, and financially. If you are worried that something may have gone wrong with the care you or a family member received, we can help you get answers. To have a free, confidential and no obligation discussion with Jackie Linehan or Alex Renton or one of our team member, call us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can give you a call at a time convenient for you.
*names changed
