Coumadin is a medication that is used to thin the blood. Recently there have been a rash of malpractice claims against doctors that have prescribed Coumadin. Coumadin is frequently prescribed to patients who suffer from or are prone to blood clots as a result of other medical conditions. About two million prescriptions of this drug are written every year. Patients that are prescribed this drug must be carefully monitored to avoid any negative health consequences. Patients that take Coumadin usually have to be extra careful when taking other medications, and are often warned to undergo frequent lab tests to ensure that dangerous side effects don't cause further harm.
Health Effects Associated with Coumadin
There are a number of serious negative effects that are associated with Coumadin, they include:
- Gangrene
- Bleeding around the brain
- Paralysis
- Stroke
- Intestinal and stomach bleeding
- Bleeding around the joints
- Bleeding in the kidneys
- Air Embolism
Physician Liability
Doctor’s owe their patients a duty to exercise reasonable care when they are prescribing or giving their patients Coumadin. In order to show that a doctor is guilty of medical malpractice, a patient must show that the doctor failed to meet this duty of reasonable care, which was in turn the reason, or cause that the patient suffered an injury. If the physician is found liable for medical malpractice, damages will include pain and suffering, lost wages, consequential damages, medical expenses, loss of consortium, mental suffering and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of time and impairment of earning capacity.
There are a number of ways that a physician can be found liable for prescribing Coumadin, some include:
- Lack of knowledge about the characteristics of the medicine
- Failure to prescribe the correct dosage and time period for ingestion
- Failure to administer medication in the right way
- Failure to properly monitor the patient while they are taking the medicine
- Failures to take into account the patients’ medical history and/or current medical conditions.
Seeking Legal Help
If you believe that you have suffered serious side effects from taking Coumadin that was prescribed to you by a physician you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Only an attorney skilled in the field of medical malpractice can assist you in properly presenting your claim. Make sure you find a licensed attorney in your state to represent you so you can ensure that your rights are adequately protected.
