Pulmonary embolism with lethal outcome and claims to the Danish Patient Insurance Association

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism can be prevented or treated by a variety of methods. Thrombosis may be prevented with drugs or by mechanical means in the exposed groups, and fully-developed thrombosis or embolism may be treated by thrombolysis or thrombectomy/embolectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pulmonary embolism (PE) with lethal outcome was the cause of five claims to the Danish Patient Insurance Association (DPIA) over five years (1996-2000). According to the registry of The National Board of Health, there were 1313 cases of death in which PE was the primary cause during this period. RESULTS: By reviewing the admission diagnoses and the operations, it was possible to select 923 patients who would have had little chance for compensation under the Patient Insurance Law. It is not possible to ascertain the chances of the remaining 390 patients of receiving compensation, but it is obvious that the frequency of reporting is far below the number of claims that could be accepted. CONCLUSION: Mortal PE is under-reported in claims to the DPIA. The reason for the lack of reporting is probably a lack of knowledge about the DPIA.