Virginia Medical Malpractice Blog - Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C.

Estate of Georgia Woman Wins $6M Verdict in DVT Case

A jury in Georgia awarded the family of a deceased woman $6,000,000 on October 20 in a medical malpractice action.

The woman had had knee surgery, and afterward developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT), essentially a blood clot in the leg, which travelled into her lungs, causing a pulmonary embolus (PE) and her death.

DVT and PE are preventable complications. There are several drugs that protect against clotting, as well as mechanical safety measures (compression legwear, foot pumps).

The deceased was at risk for DVT because she had recent surgery, she was obese, and she had a family history of heart disease and stroke, among other things. Other risk factors include: traumatic injury, multiple injuries, limitations on mobility, and advanced age.

Doctors are trained to recognize these risk factors and to actively protect against the risk of DVT.  This doctor dropped the ball and failed to do so, and a preventable tragedy occurred.

In Virginia, a doctor is required to act with the care and expertise of a reasonable doctor in that specialty. This includes taking precautions against known risks.


If your loved one has suffered a pulmonary embolism, and his or her health care providers did not adequately guard against it, contact an experienced lawyer at Williamson & Lavecchia to protect your rights.