Lack of Monitoring While on Coumadin Results in Patient’s Death

Case Overview

This case takes place in Arkansas and involves a patient who suffered injuries from taking Coumadin. The patient had experienced several minor heart episodes in the past, and as a result the defendant physician ordered that the patient begin a daily dose of Coumadin. Allegedly, the defendant physician did not advise the patient of the risks associated with Coumadin, or communicate the need for regular and periodic monitoring to ensure her safety. The defendant ordered no further monitoring of the patient’s status after writing the prescription for Coumadin. Eventually, the patient was rushed to the emergency room after being found unresponsive at her home, where a CT scan revealed she was suffering from a large internal hemorrhage. The physicians were able to stabilize the patient, however her condition never improved, and she later died. It is alleged that the defendants failed to inform the patient of the risks associated with taking Coumadin.