Errors in Anticoagulant Prescriptions
If you have been caused an injury because a medical professional failed to prescribe anticoagulants, you could be in a position to claim compensation. To find out more, you must speak to a medical negligence solicitor without delay.
When should anticoagulants be prescribed?
Anticoagulants should be prescribed to anyone who is at risk of developing a blood clot. This might be someone who has poor circulation, has just has a new heart valve fitted, has limited mobility, or has a condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Someone who is in the 'at-risk' category should undergo blood tests to assess their international normalisation ratio (INR). This indicates how quickly the blood clots, and is useful in determining whether someone is likely to form a clot unnecessarily.
If the results are abnormal, anticoagulant medication must be prescribed to ensure a clot does not develop in the wrong place. The INR reading will determine how much anticoagulant needs to be provided, although this dosage will need to be reviewed on a regular basis with routine blood tests.
What happens if insufficient anticoagulant is prescribed?
If anticoagulant is not provided, or an insufficient dose is prescribed, the consequences will be extremely serious. A blood clot will form without there being a wound (which is the usual function of a clot). Rather, a clot will develop in the wrong place, potentially blocking a blood vessel or artery. This will deprive that area of the body of blood and oxygen, resulting in either a heart attack or a stroke. Both are evidently extremely serious and may prove to be fatal.
Claiming for anticoagulant errors
It is therefore vital medical professionals:-
- Identify patients who are at risk of develop a blood clot;
- Prescribe the correct dosage of anticoagulant medication;
- Regularly monitor patients on anticoagulant medication to ensure the dosage does not need to be altered.
If doctors fail to do any of these things, the level of care will have fallen to a substandard level. If a patient consequently suffers complications because of this negligent care (for example, a stroke or a heart attack) there will be grounds for a medical negligence claim.
If you would like to discuss claiming compensation for an anticoagulant error, you need to talk to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence. After a short telephone conversation a legal expert will be able to suggest whether or not you are able to make a claim. If you are, your solicitor will handle the case on your behalf, helping you obtain the compensation you rightfully deserve.
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Can We Help You With A Medical Negligence Enquiry?
Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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