Patient is Killed by Internal Bleeding While on Warfarin

Case Overview

This case involves a male patient in California who presented to the defending hospital in order to have a routine surgical procedure. During the procedure, a portion of the patient’s bowel was injured, but they were able to stem the bleeding and conclude the surgery apparently without injury. However, this issue necessitated that the plaintiff to remain in the hospital for an extended period of time. While in the hospital, the plaintiff was being administered anti-clotting medication as well as Warfarin by the treating physician, however, no cardiology consultation was ordered. During the patient’s stay in the hospital, he began to experience internal bleeding that went unnoticed for an extended period of time. Despite attempts to save the patient’s life, he died in the hospital.