Lawsuit alleges California hospital patient died after more than 10-hour delay in getting CT scan

"A civil lawsuit against Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center alleges that a doctor's order for a patient's immediate chest X-ray was delayed for more than 10 hours, contributing to his death from a pulmonary embolism a major blood clot that blocked the arteries of his lungs. While the details of the case are particular to one individual, experts say the outcome is far too common, illustrating the need for greater vigilance of, and advocacy around, a threat that kills a person every six minutes,"

"Even short periods of convalescence, from one to three days, increase the likelihood of a condition called deep venous thrombosis, which can cause clots to break loose in the extremities and travel through the bloodstream, passing through the heart and lodging in the lungs. And this elevated risk continues even after patients are discharged home, making the need for ongoing preventive measures critical."

A delay of more than 10 hours in performing a prescribed chest X-ray contributed to a patient's pulmonary embolism, a major blood clot that blocked lung arteries. A blood clot kills a person every six minutes, per the National Blood Clot Alliance. Risk of clots forming in the deep veins of the legs increases with the length of a hospital stay; even one to three days of convalescence raises the likelihood of deep venous thrombosis. DVT can cause clots to break loose, travel through the heart and lodge in the lungs. Elevated risk persists after discharge, creating a need for ongoing preventive measures. A 38-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes experienced a difficult recovery from infection and developed severe back pain during convalescence while living with family to maintain insurance and work remotely.

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