When a patient’s blood work clearly states that he or she has a clotting disorder or blood disorder, it’s important for medical providers to take that seriously. Not doing so can lead to a patient bleeding profusely and potentially dying.
Oregon Health and Science University is facing a pair of lawsuits over the death of a man. According to the news from April 27, the state lawsuit is seeking $2.75 million from OHSU, and a federal lawsuit seeks $3.75 million at minimum. Both lawsuits are seeking reparations for the same incident, one in which a man’s civil rights were violated.
The story reports that the man died after having his teeth pulled. While heavy bleeding can be a complication, this incident might have been prevented if the man’s test results had been observed. They suggested that his blood may not coagulate well, which could lead to extensive bleeding following an operation.
The man had been suffering from Hepatitis C, liver damage and had a history of liver damage. Despite that, he had gotten clean and was preparing for a liver transplant. Before he could do that, he needed to have the dental decay resolved.
He had 12 teeth pulled, and he was sent home with gauze at around 3:30 p.m., following the operation. He bled profusely at home, and he eventually had to be rushed to the hospital by paramedics. Once with the paramedics, they discovered that he had lost at least a liter of blood. They estimated based on how much he lost during transport and based on how much they saw at his home.
Incidents like this are preventable. If your loved one died from a botched surgery, you can file a wrongful death claim.
Source: Lake Oswego Tribune, “OHSU sued after man bleeds to death,” Nick Budnick, April 27, 2017