Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a medical emergency that affects roughly 1 in 1,000 people in the United States every year. While it can happen to anyone, pregnant women are five times more likely than the average person to develop this dangerous condition. In fact, PE is a leading cause of maternal mortality and postpartum death, accounting for about 10% of all pregnancy-related deaths.
Perhaps even more unfortunate is that a large number of deaths from pulmonary embolism could be prevented with timely diagnosis and treatment. In too many cases, however, the warning signs of this common condition are misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals, leading to devastating outcomes for mothers and their families. Despite the wealth of scientific studies on the dangers of PE and the medical community’s long-running discussion about its misdiagnosis, the disease remains a significant cause of death in both Europe and the US, especially affecting pregnant women.
In this article, our medical malpractice attorneys explain how medical negligence contributes to wrongful maternal death caused by pulmonary embolism, and what legal options are available to families who have fallen victim to this persistent trend. If you suspect malpractice related to a loved one’s pulmonary embolism case, we encourage you to contact Stalwart Law Group today.
What is a Pulmonary Embolism?
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels from another part of the body into a lung artery, blocking the flow of blood and oxygen to the lung. The most common cause of PE is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot forms deep under the skin, usually in the leg, before traveling through the heart and entering the pulmonary arteries. When this happens, blood pressure in the lungs increases, and breathing becomes difficult, warranting emergency medical attention.
As the third most common cardiovascular disease (after heart attack and stroke), PE is potentially fatal and must be treated as quickly as possible. Doctors estimate that nearly 1 in 3 people who experience PE without treatment will not survive. However, with proper treatment, the mortality rate drops from 30% to around 8%. These statistics, widely documented and recognized by healthcare professionals, underscore that early diagnosis of PE is critical to patient recovery and survival.
Know the Risks: What Causes Blood Clots During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy (including the postpartum period), a woman’s risk of developing blood clots is about five times as high as normal. This is because pregnancy triggers natural changes in the body that make blood clot more easily than usual (hypercoagulability). Increasing the tendency for clots to form is the body’s way of minimizing the chances of hemorrhage during childbirth, though this defense mechanism also implies risk. Additionally, the growing uterus can slow blood flow in the veins of the pelvis and legs, which is the most common area for DVT to originate and lead to pulmonary embolism.
The inherent risk of PE is highest immediately after delivery, with the first 4 weeks postpartum carrying the greatest day-to-day risk of blood clot formation. These factors alone make it imperative that doctors and nurses closely monitor pregnant women and new moms for early signs of PE.
Other risks and contributing factors for PE before, during, and after childbirth include:
- Previous clots or family history: A personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or PE is one of the biggest red flags that doctors should note.
- C-section delivery and surgery: Cesarean section heightens the risk of PE due to vein injuries and immobilization after birth. Other surgeries or severe tissue trauma around childbirth add to this.
- Immobility or bed rest: Long periods of inactivity, like bed rest during pregnancy or immobility after birth, can lead to blood pooling in the legs.
- Obesity and Health Conditions: Being overweight or obese (BMI over 30 or 40) is a significant risk factor, and related conditions like high blood pressure can further increase risk.
- Smoking: Smoking compounds risks for blood clots and PE by altering blood vessels.
- Multiple pregnancy or fertility treatments: Carrying twins or multiples, or using fertility treatments involving extra hormones, can further increase the propensity for clots.
All doctors should be aware of these risk factors and take proper precautions to monitor for blood clots and reduce the risk of death or injury from PE. Sometimes, OB/GYNs will prescribe preventive measures for high-risk patients, such as wearing compression stockings, staying well hydrated and mobile, or using prophylactic blood thinners like heparin around the time of delivery. However, if doctors fail to recognize these risks and make no effort to lower the chances of a blood clot, an instance of PE could harm or kill the mother, and potentially give rise to a lawsuit.
Symptoms of Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism During Pregnancy
One of the biggest diagnostic challenges with pulmonary embolism in pregnancy is that many symptoms mimic the normal discomforts of carrying a baby. The strain of pregnancy on the body can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, mild swelling, and some chest discomfort. However, given the risks of PE associated with pregnancy, health care providers must take proper precautions and distinguish typical symptoms from the warning signs of DVT and PE.
Classic symptoms of PE in mothers (whether pregnant or postpartum) include:
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Sharp chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing
- Coughing up mucus and blood
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness and feeling lightheaded
- Fainting
- Coughing up mucus and blood
- Leg pain, swelling, or warmth (a sign of DVT)
Even though many pregnant women will present with symptoms similar to thrombosis and PE without ever developing a blood clot, precautionary testing and careful diagnosis are extremely important to prevent risking the mother’s life. Notably, the risk of developing PE during pregnancy is equal throughout all trimesters, with the risk increasing for up to 4 weeks after childbirth.
Why Pulmonary Embolism Often Goes Undiagnosed
Despite clear warning signs and available treatments, pulmonary embolism is still frequently misdiagnosed or missed entirely, especially in obstetric care. Moreover, even for the general population, the rate of missed diagnosis is shockingly high, with studies showing that 37.5% of all autopsied patients who die under intensive care are found to have missed PE.
The main reason for the misdiagnosis of PE during pregnancy is the overlap of symptoms. What may be a serious medical emergency is sometimes dismissed by doctors as “just part of being pregnant,” particularly when the patient appears otherwise healthy. In some cases, symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath are wrongly attributed to anxiety, heartburn, or even stress related to new motherhood.
Beyond overlapping symptoms, one challenge lies in the reluctance of some physicians to order diagnostic imaging during pregnancy. Out of concern for fetal radiation exposure, healthcare providers may hesitate to request CT scans or VQ (ventilation-perfusion) scans. However, current findings support the safety of these tests, and the risk of PE far outweighs any imaging-associated risks.
Another issue is that pregnant patients don’t always show typical results for PE under testing protocols. For example, D-dimer blood tests (which detect clot breakdown) are less reliable for screening pregnant women because of their naturally increased hypercoagulability, and other warning signs (elevated heart rate, shortness of breath) can be attributed to false causes. Overall, the traditional clinical prediction rules for PE were not designed for pregnancy, making the diagnosis more reliant on clinical judgement. If a clinician isn’t experienced in obstetrics, they could easily underestimate the likelihood of a clot in a young mother and fail to pursue the diagnosis despite symptoms.
There are many heartbreaking cases where mothers voiced concerns but were ultimately dismissed by healthcare professionals. Families have reported red flags like severe pain and difficulty breathing being ignored and incorrectly attributed. In the chaos after childbirth, a new mother’s complaints may not get the attention they deserve. When doctors fail to take these symptoms seriously, the opportunity for early intervention is lost.
The prevalence of missed PE in pregnant women and our understanding of how it occurs clearly demonstrate the need to establish pregnancy-specific guidelines for identifying and treating the condition. It is simply too easy for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to fall below the standard of care when managing PE in pregnancy.
Do you have a Pulmonary Embolism Malpractice Case?
If your loved one died or suffered serious harm due to a missed pulmonary embolism, you’re likely searching for answers. While not every PE-related injury is preventable, it is a sobering fact that healthcare professionals are often liable for deaths caused by PE. Doctors and hospitals are legally obligated to follow accepted standards of care to prevent these catastrophes, and when negligence is a clear factor, a lawsuit becomes possible.
Below are a few examples of how medical negligence may lead to death or injury from PE, giving rise to a legal claim:
- Healthcare providers dismissed or minimized symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or swelling, despite consistent complaints
- There was an unreasonable delay in ordering tests or starting treatment
- A blood clot, DVT, or PE was identified, but doctors failed to treat it and prevent PE
- Doctors failed to adequately monitor the patient for PE, despite evident risk factors
- Preventive care measures were skipped for a high-risk patient
- The patient was discharged prematurely after delivery, despite unresolved symptoms
If any of these situations sound familiar, your family may be entitled to justice and financial compensation by filing a PE lawsuit.
California Lawyers for Pulmonary Embolism and High-Risk Pregnancies
At Stalwart Law Group, our medical malpractice team has extensive experience with pulmonary embolism malpractice and maternal injury cases. We can walk you through your options, gather expert opinions, and help you seek the closure and accountability you deserve.
Pulmonary embolism malpractice cases are medically and legally complex. Proving that a healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care requires a thorough investigation and a solid understanding of both maternal health and malpractice law. No matter the specifics of your case, we’re here to help your family like we have helped thousands of Californians before.
If medical negligence played a role in your family’s unexpected encounter with PE, a pulmonary embolism lawsuit settlement can provide much-needed relief and help secure your family’s future. No mother should be lost to a preventable medical error. If pulmonary embolism misdiagnosis caused your family’s suffering, get help by contacting our office as soon as possible.
