Contact us to arrange your FREE initial consultation
Venous thromboembolism or VTE is a life-threatening condition which requires urgent investigation and treatment. Delayed diagnosis of VTE and treatment for the blood clots which block the flow of blood and oxygen to vital organs and tissues of the body can result in death or permanent disability from brain injury, stroke, heart failure, lung damage, and amputation.
VTE is the leading preventable cause of deaths in hospital. Most VTEs occur during or after hospital care. VTE and blood clots are also the most common cause of maternal death for mothers during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.
Untreated VTE leaves severe and lasting consequences which can be life-changing for individuals and their families. Compensation after VTE negligence can help ease the financial impact by replacing lost income and ensuring there is money to pay for therapies and specialist equipment, home adaptations and help with care.
Our medical negligence solicitors are highly experienced in securing the help and financial compensation that our clients deserve after injury or bereavement from mistakes in medical treatment or maternity care. Our clients benefit from:
Our personal injury specialists can also advise in cases where venous thromboembolism, such as a DVT or pulmonary embolism, was caused by traumatic injury, such as in an RTA road traffic accident.
A blood clot which forms in a vein, where it blocks or restricts the flow of blood, is called a venous thrombosis. When part of the blood clot breaks off and moves through the bloodstream to block a blood vessel in another part of the body, this is known as venous thromboembolism or VTE.
DVT or deep vein thrombosis is a type of VTE. DVT means that a blood clot has formed in a deep vein, such as in the lower leg. DVTs can sometimes be caused by being immobile for a long period of time, such as sitting for hours on a long-haul flight or an extended period of bed rest in hospital after surgery. Untreated DVT can lead to serious complications, including pulmonary embolism (PE).
Pulmonary embolism or PE is another type of VTE, which is caused when the breakaway blood clot causes a partial restriction of the blood flow or complete blockage in one or more of the arteries of the lung. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is often caused by clots which have been carried by the bloodstream from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg. Delays in treating PE can lead to death or disability from heart failure, arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, and lung damage (pulmonary infarction).
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST or CVT) is a very rare form of VTE which occurs when a blood clot blocks the large vein which drains blood from the brain. If untreated, CVT can cause brain injury from bleeding (haemorrhage) and swelling within the brain and stroke.
VTE affects people of any age, gender, race or ethnicity. Up to 60% of all VTEs are associated with hospital care. Guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) requires hospitals to assess each patient’s individual risk of VTE on their admission to hospital and reassess their risk whenever their clinical condition changes.
Factors which may increase an individual’s risk of thrombosis include:
We help clients claim compensation after negligent VTE treatment leads to long term disability and loss from:
The amount of compensation that can be claimed depends on the severity of the injury and its impact on the individual’s life. Claims for severe disability may include compensation for:
Where the negligence resulted in fatal injury, the deceased’s dependant family may be able to claim sums to replace the loss of the deceased’s income and services to the family (such as childcare, housekeeping etc), as well as funeral costs and other expenses, the statutory bereavement award, and compensation for the deceased’s pain and suffering before their death.
£900,000 settlement for a man who suffered a thrombosis and needed a below-knee amputation after a vascular consultant failed to take action to surgically repair a popliteal artery aneurysm.
Compensation settlement for a man with a history of cardiac surgery and a pre-existing heart condition who suffered a pulmonary embolism (PE), breathlessness and psychological injury when staff at an urgent care centre failed to diagnose infective endocarditis.
Compensation settlement for non-dependent family of a 70-year-old woman who died after hospital failure to diagnose and treat a pulmonary embolism (PE).
Successful trial win and settlement for the family of a new mother who suffered a CVT and cardiac arrest during her postnatal care, causing severe brain injury which has left her in a minimally responsive state.
£450,000 settlement for a 70-year-old man with a medical history of thrombosis and popliteal vascular disease who suffered a thrombosis leading to below-knee amputation after anticoagulation medication errors during surgery for an unrelated condition. Interim payments were used to buy a bespoke prosthetic limb whilst the case was ongoing.
During and after pregnancy the mother has a higher risk of developing venous thrombosis than someone of the same age who isn’t pregnant. The risk of pregnancy-related VTE is higher where the mother:
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most common cause of maternal mortality. Reports by MBRRACE-UK and HSIB have suggested that the deaths of many of these mothers could have been avoided with better care.
Maternal death can be caused by VTE at any time during pregnancy, birth and for up to six weeks postnatally. Regular VTE risk assessment is an important part of maternity care, and midwives are required to assess the pregnant mother’s individual risk of VTE regularly during and immediately after pregnancy. VTE risk assessments should be carried out at the mother’s first (booking) appointment, and again at 28 weeks, as well as on admission to hospital at any other time during the pregnancy. A further assessment of the mother’s risk of venous thromboembolism should take place after the birth and on any postnatal readmissions to hospital.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) injury medical negligence claims often involve:
Claims for VTE negligence can arise from negligent errors by one or more of the following:
Our personal injury team can help clients with VTE (such as pulmonary embolism) claims arising from trauma or fractures caused by workplace, road or other accidents.
Call our specialist legal teams Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 17.30 for free, no obligation advice.
Complete our simple form to start your claim and get a call back back from our expert legal team.
We’ll never share your details Privacy Policy
Partner
Senior Associate - solicitor
Senior associate - solicitor
Associate - Solicitor
Associate - solicitor
Associate solicitor
Solicitor
Paralegal
Medical records coordinator
Professional support assistant
Our teams have been nationally recognised over the past decade for their dedication and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients
What has to be some of the most testing horrible times was dealt with in a dignified, honest, approachable and truly empathetic manner. I could not begin to do Susan justice for her handling of our case.
I approached Boyes Turner after my claim was turned down by one of the Medical Negligence Claim company. My wife was a victim of medical negligence.
Boyes Turner have acted so efficiently on our behalf and was able to win our case. Anytime we contact them, their customer service was very good as they kept us fully informed of every level our case has developed. They are very friendly and approachable and great in their professional advise. I would strongly recommend anyone approach them for their legal and medical negligence services.
Thoroughly professional, knowledgable and approachable with communication and updates as and when needed, in what can be a drawn out process, I was always comfortable asking questions and always received answers which were clear and understandable. Highly recommend
I came to Boyes Turner desperate after searching the web for a firm to use for my sons case. He was only a few months so my mind was all over the place, but from the very first point of contact I felt a sense of relieve and belonging. I was welcomed and looked after by amazing staff who always communicated everything so well and went the extra mile to explain things and ensure I understood what was happening every step of the way (THANK YOU SUSAN BROWN). Susan was amazing I felt like I not only had a solicitor but someone who understood my emotions as a mother and always handled me with so much compassion and that was all I needed to keep me going for the 6 years of the case. Years went by in a breeze because of how professional Boyes Turner was. I am so greatful I went through it all with them and mananged to get my son a good compensation. We look forward our new life where my sons needs are priority after struggling for so long. Thank you Boyes Turner and thank you Susan Brown. My family and I are ever indebted.
From the moment I picked up the phone and spoke to Richard Money-Kyrle I knew I had done the right thing by choosing Boyes Turner to take our claim forward and to represent my son. Both Richard Money-Kyrle and Alpa Rana have worked on our case and they both have been amazing throughout, explaining every step of the way and anything we didn’t understand and keeping me updated constantly. This gave me and my family a lot of reassurance. Both Richard and Alpa are friendly and gained my trust and have been really easy to talk to which has made the process a whole lot easier and smoother than anticipated. The outcome of the claim was far more than I could have wished for and that was down to their hard work and expertise I couldn’t fault them they have been brilliant throughout the whole process I would recommend Boyes Turner to anyone.