Failure to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism Lawsuit in Frederick

Helfman v. USA (Army Health Clinic)

This is a failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism lawsuit filed on behalf of a woman in Frederick, Maryland. It was filed in Health Claims Arbitration on April 13, and it is the 173^rd medical malpractice case filed in Maryland in 2017.

Summary of Plaintiff's Allegations

A 48-year-old woman goes to an Army Health Clinic due to dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and fatigue for almost two weeks. She is evaluated and found to have a high heart rate and a high respiratory rate. Blood tests and EKG results are abnormal, all pointing to a pulmonary embolism. However, the woman is diagnosed with mild anemia due to menstrual bleeding. She is discharged without limitations.

Just two days later, she collapses in her home and dies. An autopsy reveals that the cause of her death was a pulmonary embolism due to multiple blood clots. Her family files this claim on her behalf, alleging the blood clots were present when she went to the facility and that she should have been sent to the hospital for a proper work up.

Additional Comments

• This is an obese woman who allegedly had shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, palpitations, tachycardia, tachypnea, and an abnormal EKG. Interestingly, it appears the case is going to be that the physician's assistant was told of these symptoms and failed to record them. If the jury believes plaintiffs' version of the facts, it is hard to believe that would not be game, set, and match for the plaintiffs.
• Even with the symptoms listed in the medical records - dizziness and shortness of breath -- the standard of care is going to be to rule out a pulmonary embolism.

Jurisdiction

• Federal court

Negligence

• Failure to elicit a detailed history of patient's dyspnea and quantify her symptoms
• Failure to record the nature of the patient's complaints
• Failure to inquire and look for leg swelling, pain, and tenderness
• Failure to inquire about risk factors for life-threatening cardiopulmonary diseases
• Failure to perform an adequate physical assessment and to properly diagnose and treat the patient
• Failure to recognize the patient's life-threatening symptoms mandated a diagnosis that included going to the ER to be properly examined and treated
• Negligently attributing patient's condition to anemia due to menstrual bleeding
• Failure to obtain patient's informed consent for disposition decision of discharge without limits

Plaintiff's Experts and Areas of Specialty

• Paul Genecin, M.D. - board certified in Internal Medicine, associated with Yale Medical Group and Yale University

Getting a Lawyer for Your Failure To Diagnose Malpractice Claim

Have you or a loved one suffered due to the negligence of a doctor? Miller & Zois can help you get the compensation you deserve for what you have endured. We have a long history of obtaining large results in medical malpractice cases in Maryland. Get a free case review online or call us today at (800) 553-8082.

More Malpractice Claim Information

• PE lawsuit filed in 2018 against Sinai Hospital in Baltimore alleging misdiagnosis caused a man's death
• Read about other pulmonary embolism malpractice cases filed in 2017 in Maryland:
  • A case filed in Baltimore County alleging that the hospital took a patient off her anticoagulation therapy for too long, resulting in a pulmonary embolism
  • A case filed after Express Care doctors in Baltimore County fail to diagnose a patient's pulmonary embolism, resulting in cardiac arrest and his death
  • Another case filed against Express Care doctors in Baltimore County, alleging they discharged a patient without performing proper tests, and she later dies due to a pulmonary embolism.
• Take a look at the potential value of your failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism case

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