Patient is Injured by Cessation of Warfarin

Case Overview

This case takes place in New York and involves a female patient who had been taking warfarin for several years before undergoing an elective surgery. In advance of the procedure, she saw a hematologist, who took her off warfarin in preparation for the procedure. At that time, although the hematologist did not order lab studies or any other diagnostic procedure, he concluded that the patient did not need to take warfarin at all. The elective surgery was uneventful, and the patient saw the hematologist again post-procedure. The hematologist told the patient she did not need to go back on warfarin. Within days, the patient was found unresponsive on her kitchen floor. She was taken to the ER, where it was discovered that the patient was suffering from extensive blood clots. The patient was left permanently injured from the experience, and her quality of life has suffered greatly.