My femoral artery ruptured due to a pseudo-aneurysm that went undetected in 3 ultrasounds over a 2 week period. The last ultrasound was 36 hrs before it blew and the pseudoaneurysm was approx the size of a golf ball. Luckily I was in the hospital when it burst and was then life flighted to the Duluth hospital where a vacular surgeon was able to save my leg. This happened back in May 2009 and I am still having issues. I have had a total of 5 procedures trying to repair the damage to my artery.
What are my legal options? Is this a case of medical negligence? Can I sue the hospital for not diagnosing the aneurysm earlier?
Answer:
You may have the right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit for the hospitals failure to diagnose and treat the aneurysm in a timely manner. Undiagnosed injuries are a common type of medical negligence for which patients can file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
However, you and your medical malpractice lawyer will need to prove that the hospital staff performed negligently, and that the injury you suffered was a direct result of their negligence.
Additionally, you must show significant damages (lost income, medical expenses, inability to work, etc.) to warrant the expense of filing and prosecuting a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Talk to a qualified medical malpractice lawyer about your situation. They will be able to give you advice about the best course of action for your case.
Good Luck.
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Posted by Staff Writer on 17 Feb 2010