Patricia E. Cox
My friend died 7/17/2000, at the age of 52, of pulmonary embolism caused by a thrombosis in her upper leg. She injured herself 2 days before when she fell down stairs. This was a Saturday night. She went to an emergency room fall because she was in excruciating pain and could not stand up. She was told she had a pulled hamstring and given pain medication. She awoke the following Monday morning, stood up, and immediately collapsed, saying she could not breathe. She died quickly, in her daughter's arms. My concern is, could she have been misdiagnosed at the hospital? Or could the blood clot have formed later, after her visit to the emergency room? Why didn't the doctor recognize the possibility of a blood clot? The condition was very treatable if treated. I would be comforted to know that there was no way to predict such a thing. Thanks in advance for any input on this subject.