DVT And Pulmonary Embolism Malpractice Attorneys

“It was just a freak accident.” That’s what the hospital told you. Your loved one went in for routine surgery. Maybe a knee replacement, a C-section or a hysterectomy, and died days later from a blood clot. But pulmonary embolism is not a freak accident. It’s a known surgical risk with proven prevention protocols. When hospitals fail to follow these protocols, they commit malpractice.

At McKeen & Associates, PC, we investigate the gap in care that allowed a preventable blood clot to become fatal throughout Michigan. We look for the missed dose, the unplugged compression boot or the patient left in bed too long.

How A Leg Clot Becomes Fatal

Surgery and immobility cause blood to pool in a patient’s deep veins. Clots form like sludge in a stagnant pipe; this is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If untreated, a piece breaks off, travels through the heart and lodges in the lungs, blocking oxygen delivery. A massive saddle embolus causes sudden cardiac arrest and death.

Every Patient Needs A Clot Risk Assessment

Medical teams use the Caprini Score to calculate each patient’s clot risk based on age, weight, cancer history and surgery type. DVT negligence occurs when doctors fail to calculate this score or calculate high-risk results, but fail to order the required prevention measures.

Prevention: Blood Thinners, Boots And Walking

Doctors should order blood thinners like Heparin, Lovenox or Warfarin for at-risk patients. Nurses must administer these medications on schedule, not skip doses. Patients should wear sequential compression devices (SCDs) – the squeezing leg boots – and compression stockings. Electronic logs track whether these machines were actually turned on or left unplugged. Medical staff should get patients up and walking early after surgery, not leave them in bed because of short staffing.

Warning Signs Medical Teams Ignore

The 2026 AHA/ACC acute pulmonary embolism guidelines establish Michigan’s standard of care. One-sided leg swelling, redness, warmth or pain behind the knee signals DVT. Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heart rate or feeling of impending doom indicates a clot reaching the lungs. The 2026 guidelines require immediate risk categorization and testing with D-dimer blood tests, CT angiography or V/Q scans. Dismissing these signs as anxiety or post-op pain instead of ordering proper tests violates the 2026 guidelines.

A Known Risk Requires A Known Solution

Preventable blood clots should not be fatal. If doctors neglected your loved one and they died from pulmonary embolism after surgery in Detroit or anywhere in Michigan, call McKeen & Associates, PC, at 313-524-8570 or send us a message to schedule a consultation. We will provide a thorough review of your post-surgical lawsuit.